14 December 2023 , 11:16
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Nick Kyrgios has admitted he doesn't "really want to play anymore" after being forced to withdraw from the 2024 Australian Open.
In what appears a clear reference to considering retirement, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist cited persistent injuries that have left him feeling "exhausted" and motivated. The revelations come just a week after he confirmed he would be missing the January Grand Slam event in Melbourne, having failed to recover from a wrist problem.
The blow compounds what has been a nightmare 12 months for the 28-year-old, whose career has stalled since he took on Novak Djokovic in that final at SW19. That tournament was widely perceived as the mercurial talent belatedly fulfilling his potential, only for knee surgery to rule him out of the opening three months of the following season.
Later admitting he tried to return too soon, Kyrgios then tore a ligament in his wrist in June which ruled him out for the remainder of 2023. And now his latest blow has prompted him to open up on his thoughts about quitting the sport.
Asked if he would like to retire on the On Purpose podcast, he replied: "If it was up to me (I would). I don't really want to play any more, to be honest. But I have to, almost. I have so much more to give.
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"I'm exhausted, I'm tired. I've had three surgeries now. I'm only 28 years old. I always wanted to be able to have a family and not be in pain. When I get up, I can't walk without pain. Even if I won [Wimbledon], people would be like, 'Now do it again'. That's the rat-race of life."
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(AFP)Kyrgios famously won the Australian Open men's doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis in 2022, but his yet to capture an individual Grand Slam title. However, he insisted he would be content with his achievements if he were to walk away now and not step foot on a court again.
Questioning how many injuries he was prepared to endure, he continued: "How much is enough? I'm very content with my life, I have more than enough to enjoy."
Having been as high as No.11 in the world rankings, Kyrgios has now slipped down to 192 due to his inactivity these past 12 months. The controversial star also stopped short of revealing a target date for his return to action.