‘Deluded’ Nick Kyrgios launches new social media rants as hopes of tennis comeback fade
Nick Kyrgios never held back during his time on the court and it looks like his post-tennis career will be equally controversial.
The Aussie maverick has not officially retired from tennis, even though he has only managed to play one competitive match in 2023 and has already pulled out of next month’s Australian Open.
At this stage of his story, it would be a surprise if Kyrgios returned to the sport, especially after admitting earlier this month that his desire to return to the game has faded.
“If it was up to me, I don’t really want to play any more to be honest,” Kyrgios told the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. “I have to almost keep playing. I’ve got so much more to give but, for me, I don’t feel like playing any more.
“I’m exhausted, I’m tired. I have had three surgeries now that, I’m only 28 years old, I always wanted to have a family and not be in pain. When I get up, I can’t walk without pain. It’s a tough gig.”
An official announcement confirming the end of the Kyrgios tennis story may well come at some point in 2024 and it has been clear for the last few months that he is already preparing for a whole new life.
An appearance as a pundit on The Tennis Channel brought positive reviews, as he offered up compelling insight and even offered to help world No 5 Andrey Rublev with his anger management issues.
The idea that one of the most explosive racket smashers of all-time could help Rublev control his emotions on the court brought plenty of smiles from the Russian, who told Tennis365 that he welcomed his words of support.
“I saw that Nick offered to help and that made me smile,” Rublev told Tennis365. “Nick is a very talented player, one of the most talented players in tennis, so I can say we need him back because he brings a lot of fun to tennis.”
The exchange with Rublev was another example of Kyrgios claiming a slice of the limelight and it looks like we can expect a lot more of this from the soon-to-be former tennis player.
Kyrgios has become increasingly vocal on his Twitter account in recent days, with his recent spat with Boris Becker an example of how he believes he has made as big an impact in tennis as the true greats of the sport.
“They (ex-players) popularised the sport, they drew viewers to the television. You can see the result today,” said three-time Wimbledon champion Becker.
“There has never been so much prize money, there has never been so much publicity as there is today.
“And that’s because of the legends… there was (Stefan) Edberg, (Mats) Wilander. The 90s were (Andre) Agassi, (Pete) Sampras. All these players make it possible for Nick Kyrgios not to play tennis at all this year and still be able to make a living from tennis.”
As predicted, the response was swift from Kyrgios, as he replied with a dig at Becker’s conviction for fraud in a UK court that resulted in the tennis great being sent to jail.
Not once have I taken ‘slams’ away from Becker, or any of these legends. Not once have I said I’ve impacted the game MORE. I’ve simply said that I’ve built my own brand and done it my way & brought fans. Apparently a slam finalist has no credibility. Night, done with this convo.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 19, 2023
“I’ve been arguably one of the most watched players outside the big three (Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer) the last decade?” said Kyrgios on Twitter.
“Fans around the world and have brought so many more people to the sport. I’ve created my own stuff off the court. Try to not hide any more assets.”
Kyrgios has always had a lofty opinion of his own impact in tennis and even though he does not have a trophy haul to compare to Becker, he seems keen to promote his legacy for alternative reasons.
His exchanges with Becker have led to some comments on Twitter arguing Kyrgios is ‘deluded’, yet such snipes will merely inspire the Aussie to ramp up his online rhetoric.
Starting online rows with sporting greats and celebrities may be the way Kyrgios keeps himself in the spotlight once tennis is taken out of his agenda, while he has also started an OnlyFans account that he promises will offer his fans ‘revealing’ details about all aspects of his life.
It can be challenging for sporting greats to find ways to reinvent themselves when their sporting journey ends, but Kyrgios clearly believes he can offer away from the court.
Appearances in reality TV shows may beckon, as well as an expansion of his social media presence and one thing seems certain – we will be hearing a lot more from Nick Kyrgios in 2024.