Kyrgios has the potential to be World No.1, believes Nadal

Controversial Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has all the qualities required to become the best in the world, according to 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.

Nadal, who is currently ranked ninth in the world after an injury-plagued year, believes Kyrgios and the 'next generation' of young guns, including fellow local player Thanasi Kokkinakis, have the potential to fight for the title.

"It's an era of transition where two good generations combine together. Now it comes a high level new generation that every year will be even more competitive and ready to fight for important things," news.com.au quoted the Spaniard, who had spent 141 weeks as World No. 1, as saying.

"In this new generation you will need to see how Kokkinakis will evolve, he suffered an injury (shoulder) and we don't know how he will come back, but he has the potential to be at the top," he added.

Describing Kyrgios as a player of 'unbelievable' potential, Nadal said that the current World No. 13 has the focus required to capitalise on the chance at hand.

Kyrgios' season ended in October when he was slapped with a three-week ban from the ATP Tour for tanking and was later handed a two-month suspension by the ATP after a bizarre straight-sets loss at the Shanghai Masters.

"Kyrgios is already at the top. (He is) a player who has an unbelievable potential. He has focus on himself, and can become world No. 1 and win a grand slam," Nadal said.