“Nick Kyrgios praises Andy Murray for providing him with mental health support.”

Australia tennis enigma Nick Kyrgios has revealed Andy Murray played a major role in helping him during a “dark” mental health crisis. Kyrgios has spoken candidly at various stages during the last two years about personal struggles, most notably in the Netflix series Break Point.

However, during a conversation with controversial British media personality Piers Morgan, the 28-year-old stated that Murray, who has won three major tournaments, played a significant role in helping him turn his life around.

During an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Kyrgios expressed his gratitude for Andy’s unwavering support. From the start of my career, he recognized my potential and took me under his wing. He noticed the self-harm on my arm and asked about it, as it was in a worrying state at the time.

“I used to worry about people seeing my self-harm scars in the locker room. It made me wonder what they would think when competing against me on the tennis court. They might have thought, ‘This guy must be going through a lot mentally, but he’s still pushing through and playing.'”

I was victorious in professional tournaments, but at the same time, I was indulging in nightly drinking, self-harm, and burning my arms for entertainment. This behavior became a destructive habit, causing me to despise myself and dread waking up as Nick Kyrgios.

The runner-up at the 2022 Wimbledon tournament is still dealing with injuries to their knee and wrist, making it doubtful they will compete in the Australian Open in January for the second year in a row. However, Kyrgios has found a sense of purpose by using their platform to assist those in need, beyond their career in tennis.

Kyrgios shared that he has become a source of support for those facing challenges. He has found that when people feel overwhelmed and tempted to turn to harmful habits like drinking and drugs, they turn to him because they see him as someone they can relate to. This has been a significant aspect of his career, as people reach out to him with real struggles. He receives messages and photos through Instagram from individuals struggling with self-harm and thoughts of suicide.

• In Australia, individuals can find assistance through Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636, Lifeline at 13 11 14, and MensLine at 1300 789 978. In the UK, the organization Mind can be reached at 0300 123 3393 and Childline at 0800 1111. For those in the US, Mental Health America can be contacted by calling or texting 988 or through their website chat at 988lifeline.org.