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Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has openly raised the possibility that his tennis career may be over, and vowed that if he does make it back to playing in 2024 that he will not represent Australia at the Paris Olympics.
In an opinion piece for Nine Newspapers, Kyrgios acknowledged he had sat down with his agent to discuss his future.
"The reality is, there is a part of me that knows my time in the sport may be over. And I'm OK with that," Kyrgios wrote.
"It's a conversation that needed to be had. I'm at a crossroads in my career and have reached a point where life after tennis is a prospect that excites me."
The Australian missed virtually all of 2023 through a combination of knee and wrist injuries.
Loading...Kyrgios, who turns 29 in April, posted in December on his Only Fans account that he would miss this year's Australian Open to ensure his body had "the time it needs to come back".
Despite his absence from the playing ranks, he has been a high-profile presence in Melbourne as a TV commentator and on-court interviewer on Australian Open coverage.
On Monday, Kyrgios interviewed defending men's singles champion Novak Djokovic after he won through to the semifinals.
During the interview, Djokovic told Kyrgios he missed him on court, and called on the crowd to "show him [Kyrgios] some love".
In his newspaper column, Kyrgios said his manager had brought up the potential for a new media-based career.
"He said, 'This could be you from now on if you want it to be.' I could travel the world making really good money commentating on the sport, doing things like I am now with my talk show interviewing guys like Gordon Ramsay and Mike Tyson.
"That's a life people wish they had. Even the players on the circuit would love to be doing what I am doing now, but they have a different way of thinking."
Kyrgios said there was a part of him that would love to be playing at the Australian Open, especially after his run to the Wimbledon final in 2022 prior to his injuries.
"I sit there and watch some of the players on tour and know within myself that this generation is not as strong as some of the players I have gone up against," he said.
"I know I can be one of the best in the world and win major tournaments — if my body lets me. The fire still burns, but it's not my everything."
Kyrgios said he did not know when, or if, he would be back on court.
"My body may never be the same again and injuries can take you down a different path than you imagined. One thing I will guarantee, though, is that if I am fit and ready to play, I won't be making myself available for the Olympics."
Kyrgios referenced the decision by the Australian chef de mission Kitty Chiller to ban him from playing at the Rio Olympics in 2016 as "a disgrace".
"I wanted to play for my country, I can't say that I still have that desire. And let's be honest, I haven't exactly felt like Australia has wanted me to represent it either.
"I've said before, I often feel more at home away from home."
Following widespread coverage of his column, the Australian responded to his own story, downplaying the chances of any imminent departure from the game.
Posting an Instagram story, Kyrgios said:
"Hey guys, so I've woken up today and realised about some articles going around saying that I'm retired and I'm not gunna play any more and I just want to clear it up, it's absolute nonsense.
"Yes, the last year has been tough with injury (with) my knee (and) my wrist but I'm hungry as ever, constantly rehabbing, in the gym.
"Part of the reason why I'm commentating and doing all these things around AO is to still feel that fire and still be a part of it and I just wanna let everyone know, my fans, I'm coming back, stay tuned, but there's plenty left in the tank. Don't stress."
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