Nick Kyrgios makes honest confession as he reveals how much longer he intends to play

Ewan West 13 Dec 2023 3:04 PM

Nick Kyrgios waves to the crowd

Nick Kyrgios has admitted he is tired of playing tennis and outlined his intention to “play for about another one to two years” and go out on his own terms at the top.

The Australian star declared he will be “at peace” with everything he has achieved when he leaves the sport, but stressed he wants to compete for Grand Slam titles when he returns.

Kyrgios was a runner-up at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, where he was defeated by seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in the final.

The former world No 13 fell 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-7(3) to the great Serbian in an entertaining encounter in his only appearance in a Major singles title match.

Following an excellent 2022 season, Kyrgios has been sidelined through injury this year and played his only competitive match of the campaign in Stuttgart in June.

The Australian underwent knee surgery in January and has suffered further setbacks, including a wrist injury that derailed his intended comeback during the grass-court season.

Speaking on an episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, Kyrgios revealed how much longer he is planning to play tennis and explained the reasons behind this.

“I only want to play for about another one to two years, and be at the top, and go down my own terms,” the 28-year-old said.

“I would hate to have another surgery or anything like that. I think I’ve still got the ability to have a good one to two years and then that’s it.

“I think I’ll be at peace with everything I’ve achieved and I’m going to have to just say: ‘Look, to everyone out there who wants me to play more, you’re just going to have to be okay with me not playing anymore’.”

Kyrgios also expressed that he thinks the dark period of his life where he engaged in self harm and substance abuse due to mental health issues will ultimately shorten his career.

“If I had a bit of a normal career and I flew under the radar, I don’t feel I’d feel this way, but those couple years really, I think, put a lot on my age. It’s just hard. I am tired. I’m tired of playing tennis,” the seven-time ATP singles titlist admitted.

“It’s hard, it’s hard. I’m going to the gym, I’m doing my rehab, these surgeries aren’t just like little surgeries, they’re like you might have something seriously wrong with your body and it takes time.

“I’m only human. it takes months and months of strength, consistency, diligence to get back to playing tennis at that high level again.

“I don’t want to get back on tour and just play decent, I was competing for a Grand Slam, so I want to get back to that level. So it might take a bit more time.”

Kyrgios had the best season of his career to date in 2022, posting an impressive 37-10 (78.7%) record and winning the ATP 500 tournament in Washington.

As well as his Wimbledon final run, the 28-year-old reached quarter-finals at the US Open, Indian Wells and the Canadian Open – and earned six wins over top 10 opponents – last year.

Kyrgios also won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title with close friend and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis.