Professional tennis player from Australia, Nick Kyrgios, has expressed his thoughts on possibly retiring and has made it clear that he is no longer enthusiastic about competing for his country in the Olympic Games.
In an article published by Nine newspapers, Kyrgios announced on Wednesday that he was reevaluating his athletic career following a year-long hiatus due to knee and wrist injuries.
“I am aware that my time in the sport may have come to an end, and I am at peace with it,” he expressed.
“I am currently facing a decision point in my career and have reached a stage where the thought of life after tennis is appealing to me. I am confident that I have the potential to be among the top players in the world and win major tournaments, but this depends on my physical condition. While my passion for the sport still exists, it is not my sole focus.”
The ex-13th ranked player proposed that he could potentially earn a substantial income by commentating on the sport and traveling around the world. He also mentioned that he currently hosts a talk show where he interviews individuals such as Gordon Ramsay and Mike Tyson.
Kyrgios stated that his life is envied by others and that even his fellow players on the circuit would love to have the same lifestyle as him.
The individual who reached the Wimbledon finals once stated that he would not compete for Australia at the Paris Olympics, even if he was healthy.
I can assure you that I will not be making myself accessible for the Olympics.
“I used to have a strong desire to play for my country, but I can no longer say that is the case. To be honest, it doesn’t seem like Australia wants me to represent them either. As I’ve mentioned before, I often feel more comfortable when I am away from my home country.”
Kyrgios expressed frustration with being left out of the 2016 Rio Olympics, denouncing the treatment he received from the Australian Olympic Committee and former chef de mission Kitty Chiller.
“For them to forbid me from representing my country for behavioural reasons is something that I just can’t forget.”
Leading up to the Rio Games, Chiller had expressed that Kyrgios’ actions both on and off the court demonstrated a lack of understanding for what it truly means to represent Australia as an Olympian.
On Wednesday, Kyrgios expressed his hope to heal from his wrist injury before Wimbledon and the US Open, but he acknowledged that there is no guarantee.
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“I view sports as a form of entertainment and I strive to provide a captivating performance. However, there comes a time when the show must come to an end,” he expressed.
Nick Kyrgios has been providing commentary at the current Australian Open and recently conducted the post-match interview with top-ranked player Novak Djokovic following his quarter-final victory against Taylor Fritz on Tuesday evening.
Djokovic commented that Kyrgios looked “impressive on the sidelines,” but expressed a desire to see him back on the court.
The Serbian athlete expressed joy in seeing you and noted that you look great in the booth, but even better here. They hope to see you soon with a racket as well.
In late 2019, Kyrgios stated that he was feeling drained and no longer wanted to compete. However, he also expressed his intention to continue playing for a few more years so that he could retire on his own terms.
