Nick Kyrgios believes Andy Murray deserves to retire from tennis “a little more gracefully” than he did earlier this year.
Murray retired in August following his final appearance at the Paris Olympics, more than eight years after winning the last of his three Grand Slam titles.
Australian Kyrgios, who has not competed since June 2023 due to his own injury problems, said he currently has no plans to quit the sport, but hopes nothing can happen to him when he decides to do so one day. The impact of injuries on Murray and Rafael Nadal, who will retire in November.
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Two-time Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray gives his first interview since officially retiring from tennis, discussing his next plans and how he plans to spend time at the Paris Olympics with his daughter.
“I’m looking at how Andy Murray is doing now, how Rafael is going, and I don’t want to be like that either. I don’t want to crawl to the finish line in a sense,” Kyrgios said. to Louis Theroux Podcast.
“What Andy Murray has achieved in this sport is basically second to none… Unless you’re Novak (Djokovic), (Roger) Federer or Nadal, the next guy is Andy Murray.
“I think you’ve accomplished everything. I think you deserve to go out a little more gracefully than he did. I don’t think the surgery and pain were worth it.”
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Take a look at Andy Murray’s top 10 points of all time on the ATP Tour.
Meanwhile, Kyrgios was struggling with his mental health, drinking 20 to 30 drinks a day, and said he felt “spun out of control” during a particularly dark period in his life.
“It was a bad time,” Kyrgios said, recalling the events of 2019.
“I was having a hard time being myself. It was hard at the time and I didn’t feel like I could step away from the sport and the effort I put into myself and get into the right space.
“I was just playing and playing and playing and processing everything, and it was a dark time, like, I was drinking and spiraling out of control and I was constantly playing and traveling.
“Twenty to 30 drinks (a day). It’s easy. I’ll drink like a fish. Anything, vodka, whatever.
Andy Murray hugs Nick Kyrgios after the Queens game in 2018.
“Yeah, but wake up the next day and play Nadal. Make him good money.
“It was horrible. I mean, I almost loved feeling that way, and that’s when I realized I had to get away from it.”
When asked if he was feeling good now, Kyrgios added: “I struggle most of the time, I don’t wake up feeling amazing.
“Now I think I know how to get out of bad thoughts. There was no resistance before. I don’t want to do that now.”
What’s happening on Sky Sports Tennis?
- Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Long Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (October 28 – November 3)
- WTA Finals Riyadh – (2-9 November)
- Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (3-9 November)
- Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (3-9 November)
- Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)
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