'I've come of age': Smitten Kyrgios turns up heat at Indian Wells

Story by Reuters

Updated 1436 GMT (2236 HKT) March 11, 2022

Nick Kyrgios walks with his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi after winning his men's doubles final with Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia against Matthew Ebden of Australia and Max Purcell of Australia at the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

(Reuters)A smiling, smitten Nick Kyrgios said he has never felt better following his first round win at Indian Wells — and made it clear girlfriend Costeen Hatzi is a big reason why he feels he has come of age.

The Australian, who gave a hilarious cooking demonstration at a Citibank-sponsored tennis dinner prior to the tournament, turned up the heat again on Thursday, overwhelming young Argentine Sebastian Baez 6-4 6-0 in a little over an hour.«I'm just excited to be back at this tournament. It has been a couple years because of the (coronavirus) pandemic and taking time off to get my mind and body right,» he told reporters after the win.«My body feels as good as it has ever felt. I feel like I'm moving and playing really well. It's good to be back.»Kyrgios, Kokkinakis end 'Special Ks' show with doubles triumphKyrgios in recent years had become as well known for on-court antics and outbursts as he was for his punishing serve.Read MoreBut he said he is finally free of the left knee pain that plagued him for the past year and a half and is in a great place emotionally.Asked what contributed to his improved mindset, he smiled and pointed to Hatzi, who was seated in the front row of the press conference.«I was really struggling. I wasn't happy,» he said.«The tennis world wanted me to be a certain player, and I was trying to be something that I wasn't for so many years. It put me in a dark place. I was letting people down, I fell out