Nick Kyrgios tipped to be a 'legitimate force' at Wimbledon by Grand Slam legend

Nick Kyrgios has been backed to be a 'legitimate force' at Wimbledon this year by Australian legend Todd Woodbridge.

Kyrgios is making a return to tennis this summer after skipping the European clay season, and he made a good start by reaching the semi-finals of Stuttgart.

He also started the year impressively, becoming a Grand Slam champion for the first time by winning the men's doubles at the Australian Open.

He will not be seeded at Wimbledon as his ranking is not high enough, but if the draw is not too unkind, Woodbridge says there are not many players you'd back more on a grasscourt than his compatriot.

Asked by Sports Sunday on Channel Nine about Kyrgios' Wimbledon chances, Woodbridge said: "It'll depend on his draw. That's significant.

"We don't want him coming up in a section that Novak might be, which is a possibility.

"But I think a semi is realistic this year. And if he gets to the semi and his body's OK and the head's still on the shoulders, anything can happen."

Nick Kyrgios has often been accused of failing to properly apply himself to tennis, and that is something he himself accepts is fair.

However, following a battle with some mental health struggles, he has said he is more invested in tennis than he has been for a while.

That is something that Woodbridge believes he has seen evidence of too.

"Nick is actually trained and focused on this season, so this is a good start to the grass-court season.

"If there is any player in the field outside of Novak that can play well enough and beat everyone on grass, it's Nick.

"So, it's about, 'How does he deal with the expectation as he goes into this one this time?'

"He is a legitimate force and chance to go deep at Wimbledon."