Nick Kyrgios admits he would be ‘first one to jump off and let the ATP ship sink’ to join a Saudi-backed tour
Nick Kyrgios has revealed he would be “the first one to jump off” and would “just let the ATP ship sink” if a lucrative breakaway tennis tour funded by Saudi Arabia came about.
The Australian also confessed he could not have three consecutive seasons like his career-best 2022 campaign as he “wouldn’t be able to play anymore” due to mental fatigue.
There have been reports in recent months that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is planning to make a big move into tennis, after investing in other major sports, including football, boxing and golf.
The 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals, where the highest-ranked eight young stars not playing at the full ATP Finals compete, was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
There will be an exhibition match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz – the top two ATP players – held at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, on December 27.
READ MORE: Sensational rumours of a tennis breakaway tour emerge but could it become a reality?
Kyrgios addressed the prospect of the emergence of a breakaway tour backed by Saudi Arabia or another wealthy investor and admitted he would not hesitate to sign up.
“I would have been the first one to jump off. I would have gone. I would have just let the ATP ship sink,” the 28-year-old told The Athletic.
The former world No 13 also explained he has not enjoyed this year any less than his brilliant 2022 season, despite playing just one match in 2023 due to injuries.
“I played a full year last year, no injuries; had great results, had a great year. I barely played this year, two surgeries, and now still, I would probably say they’re both equally as fine, which is crazy,” Kyrgios said.
“Most tennis players would be like, ‘This was just depressing’. People would be struggling, they would be like, ‘What do I do? Who’s my identity?’. This year, it’s been equally as enjoyable as last year. That’s just my personality and how different it is. That’s the crazy thing.
“I just don’t think I could do three seasons like that in a row. I wouldn’t be able to play anymore. I was spent after I got home after the US Open, I was cooked. I was so mentally fried. I was just so tired. Physically, I felt fine but just mentally, I was over it. So maybe this year is a counterbalance.”
“It’s been a minute. I still feel like if you put a racket in my hand it wouldn’t feel foreign at all.”
The Australian suffered multiple setbacks this year after undergoing knee surgery in January and also saw a wrist injury derail his intended comeback during the grass-court season and force him to pull out of Wimbledon following Stuttgart.
Kyrgios compiled an excellent 37-10 (78.7%) match record in 2022 after reaching the Wimbledon final, winning the Washington title and making quarter-finals at the US Open, Indian Wells and the Canadian Open. He also made semi-finals in Houston, Stuttgart and Halle, and earned six top 10 wins.
READ MORE: ‘Novak Djokovic would eat Sampras alive, Lleyton Hewitt made him look like sh*t’ – Nick Kyrgios’
