Tennis Australia officials are set to back Nick Kyrgios' return to Canberra after his outstanding Wimbledon debut, with talks under way to parachute in training partners on a fly-in, fly-out basis to allow the teenage star to move back to his family home.
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The Canberra teenager's Wimbledon dream finished on Thursday morning when he was beaten in the quarter-finals by Milos Raonic, but the 19-year-old pocketed almost $432,000 for his efforts and soared to world No. 66.
Kyrgios is set to move his base back to Canberra when he returns to Australia, and a new $27 million sports complex at Lyneham will give him the perfect home to fine-tune his game.
Tennis Australia and the Kyrgios camp have started talks on his hopes to relocate from Melbourne to be closer to his family, but the move would involve a change of coach and require quality training partners in Canberra.
It is hoped TA will give the all clear for hitting partners, including Kyrgios' 2013 Wimbledon boys' doubles champion partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, to visit Canberra to train with Kyrgios.
Details are yet to be decided, with Kyrgios due to return to Canberra in the next few weeks before ramping up his preparation for the US Open.
Kyrgios sent the tennis world into a spin with his impressive performances at Wimbledon, which included toppling world No.1 Rafael Nadal. But his dream run was halted by Raonic, who beat the former Daramalan College student 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Kyrgios' ranking has soared, from 144 to 66, which guarantees him entry to the major tournaments, and he leapfrogs Bernard Tomic.
Tennis ACT hopes to capitalise on his rise and a joint project between the Next Generation Clubs Australia, the ACT government, Tennis ACT and Tennis Australia is starting to take shape.
Thirty-two tennis courts, including an indoor tennis centre, and surfaces ranging from hard, clay to synthetic grass, will ensure Kyrgios has all bases covered should he relocate to the city.
Tennis ACT and the ACT government hope to secure a Davis Cup tie in Canberra next year, with Kyrgios as the main drawcard.
Tennis ACT chief executive Ross Triffitt said Kyrgios should be extremely proud of his performances.
"Nick's performances at Wimbledon are going to show kids they too can achieve what he has achieved. He will inspire the next generation,'' he said.
"The courts we will have will be right up there as one of the best facilities in the country.''
Construction began on the venue on May 19, with the tennis complex expected to open to the public in January.
The entire development project is on track to be finished by June next year.
The ACT government contributed $7.15 million to the tennis facilities - $3 million set aside in the 2008 budget and another $4.15 million in 2012.
The tennis facility will comprise eight Plexipave hardcourts, 12 claycourts, four synthetic grasscourts, four mini-courts for juniors and an indoor tennis centre with four Plexipave hardcourts.
The Next Generation Canberra will include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, relaxation areas, six squash courts, a cafe, bar, bistro and lounge, and a gym and exercise studios.
Next Generation Clubs director of marketing and product, Andrew Savage, said the facility would create 150 jobs when it was complete, along with the 100 direct construction jobs already in use by Canberra builder Manteena.
"This is very different to just a gym, it will be a lifestyle destination venue where people can have quality leisure time,'' he said.
"We have been wanting to get into the Canberra market for some time and recognise there is a gap for something like this.''
