Nick Kyrgios' Brisbane International title defence came to an abrupt end on Wednesday after the Australian lost 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-3 to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in the second round.
Kyrgios won't be seeded at the upcoming Australian Open as he is set to tumble from world No. 35 to 52 – placing him outside the top 50 for the first time since January 2015.
But in his typically brash fashion, Kyrgios told reporters he "honestly could not care less" about his ranking, maintaining belief that he can trouble all comers at the Open.
MORE: Hopman Cup: Serena Williams says Roger Federer encounter the 'match of my career'
“I feel like no matter who I play, I’ve got a fair shot if I play the right style of tennis and I’m feeling good," Kyrgios said.
“But at this age, I’m not even thinking about it. I’m just going to go do everything I usually do, just go practice and when the time comes, I’ll play a match.
“No matter who I draw, I’ll play and that’s just what it is.”
The 23-year-old looked on song in taking the first set but lost his mojo when Chardy broke his serve in the second.
From there frustration crept in for the Canberran and Chardy capitalised.
Kyrgios has openly admitted he feels "rusty" at the moment after a limited pre-season in which he hardly touched a racquet – opting to play basketball instead – and was also hospitalised from a spider bite .
Still, he denied having any regrets over the way he spent his break from tennis.
“I had an unbelievable pre-season, I loved every bit of it being home and being away from the sport," Kyrgios said.
“But now I've got to get to the practice court, hit a lot of balls.”
After picking up a minor knee injury in his first round win over Ryan Harrison, Kyrgios again required medical attention following the first set versus Chardy.
He also had his right wrist wrapped in ice when he turned up for his press conference.
However, Kyrgios expects to play in next week's Fast4 tournament in Sydney.
“My focus shifts now to Australian Open. I’m just glad to have a couple days now just to chill out, get my body recovered and just go again,” he said.
“I have the Fast4 in Sydney. I’m not too concerned.
“I know that I probably have to go and hit some balls but I have got plenty of time.”
It wasn't all bad in Kyrgios' camp, though, with his girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic defeating Johanna Konta in the second round of the Brisbane International to book a quarter-final berth.