Nick Kyrgios believes that Andy Murray deserved to bow out of tennis “a little bit more gracefully” than he did when retiring earlier this 12 months.
Murray retired in August after taking part in his remaining match on the Paris Olympics, greater than eight years on from claiming the final of his three Grand Slam titles.
Australian Kyrgios, who hasn’t performed a aggressive match since June 2023 on account of his personal damage issues, mentioned he at present has no plans to step away from the game, however when he does name it a day, he hopes that it may be with out the impact of accidents that hit Murray and Rafael Nadal, who will retire in November.
“I look at how Andy Murray’s doing it now, and how Rafael is going out, I don’t want to be like that either, I don’t want to be kind of crawling to the finish line in a sense,” Kyrgios mentioned on The Louis Theroux podcast.
“What Andy Murray’s achieved on this sport is second to principally nobody…except you’re Novak (Djokovic), (Roger) Federer, or Nadal, like, the subsequent particular person is Andy Murray.
“It’s like you’ve achieved everything. You deserve to go out, I think, a little bit more gracefully than he’s done. I think that the surgeries, the pain, it’s just not worth it, in my opinion.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
A have a look at 10 of Andy Murray’s best ever factors from the ATP Tour.
Kyrgios, in the meantime, mentioned he would have “20 or 30 drinks” an evening as he battled together with his psychological well being, and was “spiralling out of control” throughout a very darkish spell of his life.
Recounting occasions in 2019, Kyrgios mentioned: “That was a bad period, yeah.
“I used to be simply fighting being who I used to be. It was arduous at the moment, and I did not really feel like I may take a step again from the game and type of work on myself and get myself in the appropriate headspace.
“I was just playing and playing and playing and kind of dealing with everything. And it was a dark time. Like I was drinking and I was spiralling out of control, and I was continuing to play and travel.
“Twenty or 30 drinks (in an evening). Straightforward. I would drink like a fish. Something, vodka, something.
Andy Murray embraces Nick Kyrgios after their 2018 match at Queen’s
“Yeah, but then just wake up and play Nadal the next day. Give him a good run for his money.
“It was horrible. I imply, I nearly like type of loved feeling that approach, and that is once I knew I needed to get out of it.”
Asked if he felt in a good place now, Kyrgios added: “I struggle it most days. Like, I do not get up feeling wonderful.
“I feel like I know my steps to get me out of my bad thinking now. Like, before, I didn’t have any resistance. I don’t want to do that now.”
What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis?
- Hong Kong Tennis Open – WTA 250 (October 28 – November 3)
- Jiangxi 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 – (November 2-9)
- Belgrade Open – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Moselle Open, Metz – ATP 250 (November 3-9)
- Nitto ATP Finals, Turin – (November 10-17)
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and might be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no additional value. Discover out extra right here.
