Boom teenager Nick Kyrgios says his debut grand slam season has strengthened his belief he can become the world's best player, determined to continues his rankings rise to reach his goal of being No. 1.
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But despite already being Australia's top-ranked player, Kyrgios says veteran champion Lleyton Hewitt is the "true leader" of the Davis Cup team which will play against Uzbekistan on the weekend.
Kyrgios' US Open campaign finished on Sunday but he has already turned his attention to teaming up with Hewitt in the world group play-off tie in Perth to secure Australia's Davis Cup future.
Kyrgios is set to rise up the rankings from No. 60 into the top 50 next week and he said his whirlwind year, which included beating Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, has reaffirmed his goal to be No. 1.
"The way I'm playing ... I think I'm more than there on the tennis side of things, but I've got to get mentally and physically stronger," Kyrgios said.
"I've got a lot of work to do, but I want to get to [No. 1 in the world]. I've just got to have a good attitude every day.
"I still struggle sometimes, you can't give in. I wake up some days and I don't even want to get out of bed. But you've got to get up and get better. It's tough, but I'm learning to be mentally and physically stronger."
The 19-year-old was exhausted after being knocked out of the US Open earlier this week, which ended his first full season of all four grand slams.
Just 18 months ago Kyrgios was ranked outside the world's top 800 players. But he is expected to become Australia's top-ranked player next week when the US Open points are finalised, jumping over two-time grand slam champion Hewitt.
The duo will spearhead the Australian Davis Cup team with Bernard Tomic (hip) out injured and a group of young guns coming through the ranks.
Australia have to beat Uzbekistan to stay in the elite world group in consecutive years for the first time since 2006-07.
Hewitt holds Australia's Davis Cup records with the most overall wins, the most singles wins, most ties played and most years played.
Kyrgios is still a Davis Cup rookie with just one tie under his belt and he wants to soak up as much information as he can from the 33-year-old former world No. 1.
"What Lleyton does still amazes me, he's done it all. He's won grand slams and he's been the world's best," Kyrgios said.
"He's awesome, a champion, and when you're training on the court you know he's a true leader by his intensity.
"He always tries to help, and [it's] really good for us young guys to play Davis Cup with him. I don't look at the rankings at all. I'm still 19 and learning every day from him, and he's the leader of our team."
Kyrgios' on-court temperament attracted attention at the US Open. He was handed three code violations in his round-one match against Mikhail Youzhny. One more would have resulted in disqualification.
He revealed he almost withdrew from the tournament because of a bone stress injury in his left arm.
"I was physically really close not to playing at all, but I found some extra energy to do whatever I could to get out there and compete," Kyrgios said.
"I haven't found a period to rest yet. I have to keep playing and it's still sore, but I'll push through."
Kyrgios had minimal time to relax after a four-week stint in the US, spending just two days with his family in Canberra before flying to Perth.
The former Daramalan College student admitted his first full year of professional tennis had taken a toll on his mind and body.
After bursting onto the scene with a second-round appearance at the Australian Open, he made the Wimbledon quarter-finals and the third round at the US Open.
