Kyrgios on not liking clay: 'My shoes get dirty, my clothes get dirty'

Australia's Nick Kyrgios asked for a wild card to play in Houston this week, but says he's still not wild about clay.

“It’s probably not my favorite surface to play on, for multiple reasons. My shoes get dirty, my clothes get dirty,” Kyrgios told the Houston Chronicle.

The 22-year-old has won four titles in his career, but all have been on hard courts. But he has had problems with a knee injury this season, not playing at all between the first round of Davis Cup and Indian Wells. Following a defeat to Alexander Zverev at Miami, he said running was painful.

Match point from Kyrgios' win over Fognini in Miami:

Now, he is looking to get more time on court, even if it's on the clay.

“Just to go out there and get through a match not having pain is a success to me at this stage,” said Kyrgios. “Obviously, I want to go out there and win matches, win the tournament. I’m more than capable of that, but at this stage, it’s just more about making sure my body can sustain under match pressure. Going out there and practicing is different than going out there in a match and feeling that pain.”

Kyrgios is very friendly with John Isner and Jack Sock, who are also playing Houston this week.

Miami champion Isner says that Kyrgios is a ‘natural talent.”

“Everyone knows that,” Isner said.

The Australian is No. 24 in the rankings.

This week on Tennis Channel Plus:

—ATP Houston Outer Courts (4/9-4/13)

Catch all the action from the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship with outer court coverage live on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday April 9 at 4 p.m. ET

—ATP Marrakech Final (4/15)

Don’t miss the Grand Prix Hassan II final live on Tennis Channel Plus Sunday April 15 at 9 a.m. ET

—ATP Monte-Carlo (4/15-4/22)

Watch first to last ball of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters live on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Sunday April 15 at 7 a.m. ET