He might have long been touted as the Bad Boy of the tennis world, but with his dazzling athleticism and effortless knack for staging comebacks late in the game to defy both his opponents and critics alike, Kyrgios has come to be adored by many around the world. His style is at times playful and his antics on the court certainly refreshing for those who have grown up watching the likes of Nadal and Federer, but Kyrgios breathes fresh air into a sport that has otherwise grown stale at times, long hampered by the greats who have come to dominate season after season. Now, the young Aussie’s future in tennis looks uncertain.
Following a singles match loss in straight sets to world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Laver Cup in Boston and another defeat in doubles later during the competition, Kyrgios announced that he is unsure how long he will continue to play professional tennis. Speaking at a press conference, the 26-year-old said, “Definitely this is my last event of the year,” adding, “I need to go back home. I have been travelling for four and a half months now. My mum is not doing too well with her health. I’d like to go back and see her.”
Kyrgios continued, “Obviously, I’ll get my body right and I’ll start my pre-season, spend time with my family for the Australian pen and go from there. I will reassess.”
Kyrgios’ relationship with tennis has been strained since coming to a career-high ranking of 13 in 2016. Aside from battling with the crowd and critics, the young star has also had to battle with his own mind at times, frequently speaking up about his disdain for the sport at time. It’s a struggle that has seen Kyrgios slip down the ladder considerably over the last few years, and now he’s ranked 95th in the world however this is largely due to the fact that he’s played very few tournaments in the last two years as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Regardless of where you stand on the Kyrgios camp – whether you loathe or adore him – his talent is unquestionable. Having come to form early in his career, Kyrgios never felt intimidated by his rivals, even the greats. He’s one of just a handful of players in the world to beat the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and he still continues to be a fan favourite. You’d be wise never to count him out of the game.
Even so, whether Kyrgios’ heart is in the game remains to be seen. “I feel like I’m not one of those players now that’s going to go hunting for points or hunting for accolades or anything like that,” he explained. “I feel like I have nothing left to prove to myself. I’m incredibly proud of what I have achieved. Where I go from here, everything’s a bonus. I’m player Laver Cup again, and I’m not going to lie, I think this is my last year I will probably play Laver Cup.”
As Kyrgios affirmed, “As long as I’m on the court, I will try and give my best, but I’m not going to lie and say that I’m going to play four or five more years on tour – that’s just not me.”
