Nick Kyrgios hinted at calling it a day after a heart-breaking first-round exit at the 2025 Australian Open.
The 29-year-old tennis ace suffered a 7-6 [7-3], 6-3, 7-6 [7-2] defeat by Jacob Fearnley on Monday, marking his grand return since reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 US Open.Kyrgios, plagued with wrist and hip discomfort previously, battled an abdominal strain at the John Cain Arena that saw him frequently grasping his side during play.
Post-match, Kyrgios opened up about the toll on his body and the emotional moment, explaining: “Realistically, I can’t really see myself probably playing singles again here, so it was special. I didn’t want to just throw in the towel and walk off or retire. I was hurting physically. I respect my opponent. The fans waited hours to come see me play.”
With Kyrgios seemingly at peace with the prospect of imminent retirement, it’s not the first time that the Australian pro has opened up about finally retiring. Here, Mirror Sport breaks down everything he has said about calling it quits over the years…
Kyrgios hinted at a potential pivot towards gaming in a December 2020 PlayStation 5 ad, saying: “When I reach 10 years spent at the professional level, I think I will try to make the switch and become a gamer. I think I’m good enough to be able to play that, but I just need to dedicate myself to this.”
Kyrgios, who turned pro in 2013, has had a 12-year career in tennis so far. Although we haven’t seen him compete in the video gaming world yet, it seems like he might be close to making a move.
In a December 2023 episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, Kyrgios confessed his exhaustion with the tour. He said: “If it was up to me, I don’t really want to play any more to be honest. I have to almost [keep playing]. I’ve got so much more to give, but I don’t feel like playing anymore.
“I’m exhausted, I’m tired, I have had three surgeries now that…I’m only 28 years old, I always wanted to have a family and not be in pain. When I get up, I can’t walk without pain. It’s a tough gig.” He continued: “I only want to play for about another one to two years and be at the top and go down my own terms. I would hate to have another surgery or anything like that.
“So I think I’ve still got the ability to have a good one to two years and then that’s it. I think I’ll be at peace with everything I’ve achieved. I’m going to have to just say to everyone out there who wants me to play more, ‘You’re just going to have to be OK with me not playing any more.'”
In a candid chat with Piers Morgan on ‘Uncensored’, Kyrgios explained that he was pondering the prospect of retiring, citing how he was unsure if he would ever make it back to his prime levels of playing. He said: “I’ve genuinely thought about, ‘is it worth me doing all of this?’
“I wasn’t having the improvement in my wrist that I wanted, and I was like, maybe I’ll never get back to that level. I haven’t had as much success, to say as Andy Murray or Novak [Djokovic], but I’ve had a great time, and I’ve had more success than most athletes do have. So I can’t be selfish in wanting more, I don’t think.”
Hinting further at retirement in the near future, Kyrgios took to Instagram last October, posting a series of memorable moments from his career with a telling caption: “Tennis…..damn…..it’s been A CRAZY JOURNEY!!!! It all started because of you. FOREVER GRATEFUL. I love all my FANS. There are only a few chapters left.”
Discussing his physical struggles on the Nothing Major podcast in December, Kyrgios opened up about the toll tennis has taken on his body, suggesting that 2025 might mark the end of his professional journey. He explained: “Every time I play tennis now, I got to do an hour and a half treatment after like my wrist. I lose feeling in my fingers sometimes. It’s tingling. So I’m definitely on the back end.
“I couldn’t see myself playing for another, max a year and a half, probably. Like with my body, honestly, with my wrist at the moment.” Despite bowing out from the singles contest at the Australian Open, Kyrgios has conceded that he’s gunning for glory in the doubles alongside fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis.
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