Kyrgios won't be over-awed by occasion: Rasheed

It’s a huge match tonight, Nick Kyrgios taking on Andy Murray for an Australian Open semi-final.

A lot of people keep asking about how Nick, at such a young age, will have the mental strength to deal with this kind of challenge. But I really don’t think that will be an issue for him.

He will see it as another game, he has to be the last man standing.

And for me the last match he played carried even bigger expectations. He was expected to win.

This time, against Andy, the expectation is that he will play a good match.

He will have nerves, of course, but they will be natural nerves and good for him.

But as far as expectations go, he won’t buckle, his character is to go out there and accept the challenge.

Mentally he will be centered for what he is doing on the court.

And as far as people saying he is only 19, it is too hard to be tough enough for this kind of pressure, I don’t buy that.

If you go back in time all the great champions, like Sampras, Becker and others had won majors in their teens.

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Nick has been on the centre court in Wimbledon, that is as big as it gets.

Here it is different.

He has the crowd cheering him on, there is a lot of natural energy on the court and in his corner.

For Nick it is a calming place, he uses that energy and engages well with the crowd. It’s exactly where he wants to be.

Looking at Andy Murray he will know he beat Nick easily the past time they met.

And he will see this as a real opportunity.

Both Andy and Grigor Dimitrov would have gone into their fourth round match thinking if I win this I am a good chance to make a semi-final at the Australian Open.

And Andy played a big match, with high energy and will look at this clash with excitement.

People here in Australia might think Andy is under the radar, but it is not true.

He has massive expectations back in his own country, we just don’t see it here.

But Andy has been here before, he has lived the biggest moments in Wimbledon and he has succeeded. He knows exactly what to expect out there.

Still Andy will have his moments of nervousness.

If Nick can get really involved and make the match tight early there will be some very interesting times out there for Andy.

How can Nick do it?

His weapons all have to fire.

His serve has to be big, he has to get aces.

He is playing one of the best returners in the game in Murray, so Kyrgios has to know it is his biggest weapon against a major asset of his opponent. He has to win that battle.

And obviously Nick has to take his chances.

He has to hunt down moments and when they came he has to be aggressive and take them.

But look, if I have to tip a logical pick, then I am leaning towards Andy Murray.

The match will be LIVE and on Channel Seven from 7pm tonight.

Roger Rasheed is a Channel Seven tennis commentator.