OREANDA-NEWS. Australian tennis sensation Nick Kyrgios has formed a partnership with Malaysia Airlines to ensure he builds on the success of his stellar first full year on the world circuit.

In the past 12 months the Canberra teenager has climbed from 183rd to 52nd in the world rankings, upset world number one Rafael Nadal on the way to a quarter-final berth at Wimbledon, reached the third round of the US Open and won three ATP Challenger titles. He also helped Australia's Davis Cup team retain its world group place and won the 2014 Newcombe Medal as the nation's outstanding player.

Still only 19 years old, the youngest player in the world's top 90, the charismatic Kyrgios is determined to ensure he takes his game to another level in 2015 and says becoming an ambassador for Malaysia Airlines is at the heart of striving to make improvements on and off the court.

"A professional travel partner is as important as a good doubles partner," Kyrgios said.

"With tournaments all around the world it's essential to arrive at events physically and mentally fresh and able to compete with the world's best players."

Born in Australia to a Greek father and Malaysian mother, Kyrgios said Malaysia Airlines has played a tangible role in keeping his Malaysian heritage close to his heart.

"While I was born and brought up in Australia, I'm really proud of my family culture and very close to my Malaysian family. I've flown with Malaysia Airlines to visit them since I was a boy and my mum and extended family have always associated the airline with home. I feel privileged to become a friend of the airline - it will enable me to keep that important link with my family culture."

Regional Senior Vice President of Malaysia Airlines, Mr PK Lee, said the collaboration with Nick is a result of two parties sharing a common heritage, as well as a desire to achieve excellence.

"We are delighted to partner with Nick Kyrgios because he is not just a quality player, he's a world-class sportsman with a level of passion and charisma that makes him universally admired," he said.

"His breakthrough performances on the world tennis circuit moved us all this year and we're determined to help him achieve his dreams in 2015 and rise even further up the world rankings."

Mr Lee said Malaysia Airlines had the ability to serve up Kyrgios to tennis events across Australasia, Asia, the UK and Europe, with 81 flights a week direct to Malaysia from Australia and New Zealand making Kuala Lumpur the hub to more than 60 destinations worldwide. Key flights included the state of the art A380 double daily to London and daily to Paris.

"Nick is the future of Australian tennis," Mr PK Lee said, "and we're thrilled to be helping him reach great heights."