Nick Kyrgios has announced that he is no longer interested in pursuing a career in tennis, as concerns arise about his ability to recover from his significant knee and wrist injuries.
Kyrgios insists that he will return and end his career according to his own preferences, even though he has only played one match in the past 14 months and has dropped off the global rankings. However, the 28-year-old also acknowledges that he is fatigued from the demanding schedule of the tour and would ideally like to retire.
Kyrgios expressed on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast that he does not have a strong desire to continue playing. He feels obligated to keep playing despite having more potential to offer.
“I am fatigued and weary. I have undergone three surgeries already… At only 28 years old, my dream was to start a family and live without constant pain. But now, even getting out of bed is a struggle due to the pain. It’s a difficult situation.”
Kyrgios shared with the British podcaster that in hindsight, he regrets ever starting to play with a racket.
The unpredictable skillful player recently announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Australian Open, after losing his only competitive match of the year to China’s 64th ranked player Yibling Wu in Stuttgart in June. This decision was described as “heartbreaking” but not unexpected.
The player who used to hold the No.13 spot in the world rankings will now try his hand at giving commentary at Melbourne Park. However, he states that he will eventually make a comeback to the court in 2024, even though he is not enthusiastic about it, with a protected ranking of No.21.
“I have a goal of playing for one to two more years and achieving success on my own terms,” stated Kyrgios. “I want to avoid any potential surgeries and believe I have the talent to have a successful final stretch before retiring.”
“I have come to terms with my accomplishments and am content with them. To those who are urging me to continue playing, I simply say, ‘You will have to accept that I will no longer be playing.'”
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Kyrgios had knee surgery in January and then again in October due to a torn ligament in his right wrist, specifically the one used for serving. While former US Open finalist Juan Martin del Potro was able to make a successful comeback from a similar injury, he has not played since February of last year.
Legendary Australian tennis player John Newcombe has not completely abandoned hope of Kyrgios making a comeback, but he recognizes the challenging path that lies ahead for the Canberra native.
“I am not well-informed about the injury, but it appears to be lingering and will be difficult to recover from. This is due to the fact that the player is aging every year and has been sidelined for quite some time,” stated Newcombe. “Therefore, it will be challenging for him to make a comeback. However, if he does manage to heal his wrist, he possesses a strong game and can earn many effortless points.”
Source: theguardian.com
