Kyrgios faces Aussie Open test

MELBOURNE — Nick Kyrgios is often associated with tantrums and even tanking, but he has a chance to create some positive headlines by making a deep run at the Australian Open.

The antics of Kyrgios, who is returning from a ban for "lack of best efforts" during a notorious match in Shanghai, have doused expectations of a title run at his home Grand Slam.

But despite his discipline problems, Kyrgios, dubbed a "human headline" by Australian media, is coming off his best year yet when he won three titles and broke into the top 15.

Kyrgios has shown a liking for Melbourne Park where he reached the quarter-finals in 2015, equalling his best Grand Slam performance yet.

And the 21-year-old says he has benefited from his sessions with a psychologist, which he agreed to in return for a shorter ban after his Shanghai meltdown.

"Obviously I'm not going to tell you what we talk about, but I think it's helping me for sure," the world number 14 said before this month's Hopman Cup in Perth.

"I'm just trying to learn a bit more about myself and obviously just trying to figure out ways to enjoy the sport a little bit more and just enjoy the grind of it."

The pressures of tennis took their toll in Shanghai, when Kyrgios lost points on purpose and argued with fans during his second-round defeat to Mischa Zverev.

The incident in October came just days after Kyrgios had lifted the third trophy of his career at the Japan Open in Tokyo.

"I needed to shut down, really, after a very long and tough year," he said. "I'm still learning about myself and things like (scheduling)."