Nick Kyrgios was hospitalised with a spider bite over Christmas

This is not how Nick Kyrgios would have envisaged spending his Christmas ahead of a busy summer of tennis and a title defence.

Nick Kyrgios is set to fly into Queensland to prepare for his Brisbane International title defence after spending Christmas in the hospital nursing a spider bite.
Organisers said Kyrgios, 23, was on track to arrive in Brisbane on Friday after the tennis star revealed on social media he had a far from a festive time during the holidays.
World No.35 Kyrgios had to be treated in a Canberra hospital over Christmas after being bitten on the foot.
“Got a spider bite on my foot. Christmas different every year,” Kyrgios posted on Instagram.
The former world No.13 also added a picture of him with an intravenous drip with the caption: “This spider bite outta control.”

Organizers were confident the hospital visit would not derail Kyrgios’ preparations, saying his Brisbane International plans were still in place.
Kyrgios is the eighth seed at the Brisbane International which starts on Sunday.
He is hoping to bounce back in 2019 after his ranking slipped from world No.21 to 35.
Kyrgios began the year in style by claiming the Brisbane crown in January — his fourth career title — when he defeated American Ryan Harrison in the final.

However, it was his only tournament triumph in 2018.
He entered 16 events but after his Brisbane win only advanced past the round of 16 four times — none at a grand slam.
His frustrating season ended abruptly in October due to a recurring elbow injury, forcing his withdrawal from Moscow’s Kremlin Cup.