Nick Kyrgios believes Andy Murray deserved to exit tennis “a little more gracefully” than he did by retiring earlier this year.
Murray retired in August after playing his final match at the Paris Olympics, more than eight years after claiming the last of his three Grand Slam titles.
Australian Kyrgios, who has not played a competitive match since June 2023 due to his injury problems, said he has no plans to walk away from the game at the moment, but when he calls it quits, he hopes it happens Could. The impact of injuries to Murray and Rafael Nadal, who will retire in November.
“I look at how Andy Murray is doing now, and how Rafael is going out, I don’t want to be like that either, I don’t want to be like that, crawling to the finish line in a way,” Kyrgios said. But 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, like, the next guy is Andy Murray.
“It sounds like you’ve accomplished everything. I think you deserve to go out a little more gracefully than he did. I think the surgery, the pain, isn’t worth it in my opinion.”
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A look at Andy Murray’s 10 greatest-ever scores from the ATP Tour.
Meanwhile, Kyrgios said he was drinking “20 or 30 drinks” a night as he struggled with his mental health, and that he was “spinning out of control” during a particularly dark period of his life.
Recalling the events of 2019, Kyrgios said: “That was a bad period, yes.
“I was just struggling to stay who I was. It was hard at that time, and I didn’t feel like I could take a step back from the game and work on myself and get myself right.” Can bring in direction.
“I was just playing and playing and playing and dealing with everything. And it was a dark time. Like I was drinking and I was getting out of control, and I was playing and traveling. Was continuing to do.
“Twenty or 30 drinks (a night). Easy. I’ll drink like a fish. Anything, vodka, anything.
Andy Murray hugs Nick Kyrgios after their 2018 match at Queen’s
“Yeah, but then get up and play with Nadal the next day. Give him a good run for his money.
“It was horrible. I mean, I almost love having this kind of fun, and that’s when I knew I had to get out of it.”
Asked if he felt in good shape now, Kyrgios said: “I struggle with it most days. Like, I don’t wake up feeling amazing.
“I feel like I now know my steps to get out of my bad thinking. Unlike before, I had no resistance. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
What’s going to be on Sky Sports Tennis?
- Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (28 October – 3 November)
- Jiangxi Open – WTA 250 (28 October – 3 November)
- Merida Open Akron – WTA 250 (28 October – 3 November)
- Rolex Paris Masters – ATP 1000 (28 October – 3 November)
- 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)
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into sky tvstreaming service Now And the Sky Sports app is giving Sky Sports customers access to live sport up to 50 per cent more at no extra cost this year. Learn more here.
