They're the most unlikely teammates the tennis world has ever seen, but rising star Nick Kyrgios hopes playing alongside Stan Wawrinka has helped heal the wounds of an infamous sledge.
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A relaxed Kyrgios also says he's come to grips with the increased attention on his every move and is determined to match the best in the world when he begins his 2016 season.
But the interesting combination with Wawrinka as part of the Singapore Slammers team at the International Premier League Tennis event has created intrigue.
There was major tension between the pair when Kyrgios directed a distasteful sledge at Wawrinka and his girlfriend in August.
But just four months later Kyrgios and Swiss star Wawrinka were trading high fives – which were at times awkward – and back pats as Slammers teammates.
"It's been really good, actually," Kyrgios said on Fox Sports when asked about teaming up with Wawrinka.
"We all have a group chat, we've all been chatting and I feel like we're a lot more comfortable with each other now. It's almost like nothing happened."
"We're out there competing playing for the same team, we want to win. I think that's been the main thing, is me just getting up and giving him the same energy I give everyone else and he's appreciated that.
"...I feel as if I've matured as a person, I've learned a lot of things [this year]. The media spotlight comes with the territory."
The teammate attitude shows the pair have come a long way since an alleged locker room altercation and Kyrgios being fined $US10,000 by the ITF.
It's the next step in 20-year-old Kyrgios' plans to move on from a rollercoaster 2015 and put all of his energy into moving forward next year.
Kyrgios played 43 matches this year, winning 24 and walking away with $961,018 in prizemoney as well as jumping 20 spots in the rankings from No. 50 to 30.
He also managed to beat boyhood idol Roger Federer in May.
"To be in the same team [in Singapore] as Stan and Andy [Murray], some of the best players in the world and grand slam champions it's a massive opportunity for me to see what they do and how they prepare," Kyrgios said.
"It was an up and down year for me, but all in all I think it was pretty successful. There were periods where I wasn't playing great, but I did my best.
"I feel like my game is in its prime at the moment. I've still got a massive way to go physically and mentally but I feel as if I can match it with the best in the world.
The two-time grand slam quarter-finalist wants to rise further up the rankings and has formed a bromance with world No. 2 Andy Murray.
Kyrgios credits Murray for helping him learn to cope with the professional circuit. "Andy has been a good friend of mine for a long, long time now," he said.
"As soon as I came on tour, he was a guy that sort of mentored me and took me under his wing. When he was on my team [in Dubai] we blended well and had a lot of banter.
"I've been fortunate enough to be on the same team as guys like Marcelo Melo and Carlos Moya – he's been an idol of mine for a long time. I used to play computer games and use him.
"Also guys like Dustin Brown ... the relationships you create here are amazing."
Kyrgios is expected to arrive back in Canberra this week for a brief break before playing in the Hopman Cup and moving to the Sydney International in preparation for the Australian Open.
