Nick Kyrgios has branded the prospect of his retirement as “nonsense”, just hours after a column bearing his name said his “time in sport may be over”.
In typical Kyrgios fashion, he raised the idea that his playing days might be over, despite starting the conversation on the subject.
The 28-year-old took to social media to deny claims his days on the tour could be numbered, saying he still has “a lot left in the tank”.
TALKING POINTS: The Aus-Open farce was declared overwhelming evidence of major change in tennis
Novak two wins away from 11th AO crown | 00:55
“I woke up today and noticed that there were some articles circulating saying that I am retired and will not play anymore,” Kyrgios said in a post on his Instagram Stories.
“I just want to make it clear, it is complete nonsense.
“Yes, the last year has been tough because of injuries, my knee, my wrist, but I'm hungry as always, constantly doing rehab exercises in the gym.
“One of the reasons I comment and do all these things around AO is to still feel that fire and still be a part of it.
“So I still wanted to let everyone know, all my fans, that I'm coming back, stay tuned, but there's still a lot left in the tank. Don’t stress yourself out.”
EARLIER
Andrew Jackson
Nick Kyrgios last played tennis in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in June last year. As it turns out, this may have been our last glimpse of Kyrgios the player on a tennis court.
The 28-year-old revealed on Wednesday that his “time in the sport may be over” after sitting down with his agent Stuart Duguid a few days ago to discuss his future.
In a column for the Nine newspapers, Kyrios added that he has “reached a point where life after tennis is a prospect that excites me”, something he got a first glimpse of when he was with the this year's Australian Open commented.
“It’s a conversation that needed to be had. “I am at a crossroads in my career and have reached a point where life after tennis is a prospect that excites me,” Kyrgios wrote.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 12: Nick Kyrgios of Australia (l) interviews Coco Gauff of the United States before the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 12, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“That’s why my manager brought it up. He said, “That could be you from now on if you want to.” I could travel the world and make really good money commentating on sports and doing things like I do now on my talk show, on the I interview people like Gordon Ramsay and Mike Tyson.
“This is a life that people want. Even the players on the track would like to do what I'm doing now, but they think differently. They don’t have the global reach that I do. Otherwise they would do it too. Her whole world revolves around playing tennis, and that’s never been me.”
In fact, Kyrgios was open about “hating” tennis when he was younger and fell in love with basketball instead.
But the Australian's success in tennis gave him the opportunity to provide for his friends and family.
“See what it means!” Marathon QF Opener | 00:52
“That’s when I realized this was the journey I had to take because I didn’t think I could make it in the NBA. It was an easier way for me to get out of it,” Kyrgios said on comedian Trevor Noah’s “What Now?” podcast. earlier this year.
Having now built a significant profile in the sport, Kyrgios has begun exploring other avenues in tennis, including commentary, and even interviewed Novak Djokovic after his quarterfinal win over Taylor Fritz on Tuesday.
Djokovic said it was good to see Kyrgios and he hoped it would be with a racket “soon”, although it sounds like the Australian will live with that reality if that doesn't happen.
“Even last week, when I was at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, I was happy,” Kyrgios continued in the column.
“Of course there is a part of me that is watching and would like to be out there, especially after what I did at Wimbledon 18 months ago when I reached the final against Novak Djokovic.
“I sit and watch some of the players on tour and I know within myself that this generation is not as strong as some of the players I have played against.
“I know that I can be among the best in the world and win big tournaments – if my body allows it. The fire still burns, but it's not my everything.
“It annoys me that there are people out there who think I don’t want to be out there. It’s like they think I don’t want to play and are making excuses about my injuries.”
CRAZY court reporting wins on epic point! | 00:50
Kyrgios withdrew from this year's Australian Open due to ongoing rehabilitation from knee and wrist injuries, adding he did not know when he would be back.
“I hope to recover from the wrist injury that required surgery last year in time for Wimbledon and the US Open, but that is no guarantee. “My body may never be the same again and injuries can take you down a different path than you imagined,” he wrote.
Kyrgios is sure of one thing.
“However, I can guarantee one thing: if I am fit and ready to play, I will not make myself available for the Olympics,” he added.
“The way I was treated by the Australian Olympic Committee and former chef de mission Kitty Chiller will never be forgotten.
“Excluding myself from taking part in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was a disgrace. I was number 13 at the time and had a real chance of winning a medal. The fact that they banned me from representing my country for behavioral reasons is something I simply cannot forget.”
Embarrassing Alcaraz interview | 00:31
At the time, Kyrgios criticized the Australian Olympic Committee for his treatment as “unfair and unjust,” adding that AOC had made it “crystal clear” that it opposed him being part of the team.
According to then-AOC boss de mission Kitty Chiller, Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic were “on guard” because of their behavior at the time.
Whether Kyrgios returns to the pitch at Melbourne Park remains to be seen, but the Australian is confident his return would result in an immediate increase in “crowds and spectator numbers”.
“Some people are happy that I’m not playing. I think the crowds and viewership at the Australian Open in recent years tell a different story,” he added.
“Sports is entertainment and I like to think I put on a show. But at some point the curtain has to close.”
Comments are closed.