Content Kyrgios OK if tennis career is over

Nick Kyrgios admits he’s OK about the prospect of never playing professional tennis again.

Unranked after slipping out of the world’s top 1000 following just one on tour match in 16 months, Kyrgios says he’s enjoying life as a commentator and talk show host and can see that as his fulltime future going forward.

“I sat down with my agent, Stuart Duguid, a couple of days ago to talk about my 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,” the 2022 Wimbledon finalist wrote in a Nine newspaper column.

“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.

“It’s why my manager brought it up. 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.”

The 28-year-old believes he’s already doing what many players would love to be doing.

“They don’t have the global reach that I do,” he said.

“Otherwise, they would be doing it too.

“Their entire world revolves around playing tennis, and that’s never been me.”

Kyrgios contemplating retirement is no great revelation.

The one-time world No.13 conceded the “stars would have to align” for him to make a successful comeback after knee and wrist surgeries.

“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 in the newspaper column.

“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 also declared himself out of the running for the Paris Olympics, even though it would take something of a miracle to qualify anyway.

(Australian Associated Press)