Linda Pearce is the Chief Tennis Writer and general sports reporter for The Age. She writes about a range of sports, including football, netball, and gymnastics. Linda has twice been named Australian tennis writer of the year.
As a left knee injury that has been lingering for longer than he first disclosed continues to trouble Nick Kyrgios less than a fortnight before the start of the Australian Open, the world No.13 has denied the issue is a major concern.
It started with an ace, and finished in just 61 minutes, as Roger Federer made a successful and oh-so-welcome return to tennis at the Hopman Cup on Monday night.
Kyrgios has the talent to win an Australian Open, French ace Richard Gasquet believes. One day.
Perth: Nick Kyrgios has expressed his confidence in his Hopman Cup partner Daria Gavrilova's ability to rebound from an opening singles loss and the defending champion Australians' ability to qualify for Saturday's final despite Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Spain.
After a season that finished in ignominy, Nick Kyrgios has opened the next in far more positive style. New year, bright start, as the 21-year-old launched Australia's Hopman Cup defence by dispatching Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4.
Could Dominika Cibulkova be the New Year version of mature-aged 2016 star Angelique Kerber? Can the high-energy world No.5 carry forth her brilliant end to last season into the next? Might the diminutive "Domi", as she is known, become the next Kerber by forging a path from very good to great at Melbourne Park?
Laughed. Couldn't help it. There was just something amusing about listening to  Mark Philippoussis talking this week about possibly being the right coach for Nick Kyrgios if only Kyrgios can choose who the right coach might be. Philippoussis? Really?
What will be the big tennis story of the summer? Roger Federer's reappearance? A Nick Kyrgios charm offensive? For John Newcombe, one component will be a successful comeback from injury for Thanasi Kokkinakis, even as Lleyton Hewitt warns that the young South Australian faces a "tough" return after what has effectively been a year away.
Another substantial Australian Open prizemoney increase is imminent as it pushes towards the $50 million barrier, with only the finer details of the record sum's distribution still being negotiated by Tennis Australia and player governing bodies the ATP and the WTA.
Australian Paralympian of the year Dylan Alcott has joined Sam Stosur, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrgios and Sam Groth on the Newcombe Medal honour roll.
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