Nick Kyrgios at the US Open last month. (Image: Getty)
Has professional tennis almost seen the last of as a player? Fans have been left wondering exactly that following a cryptic post from the 29-year-old where he appeared to be teasing retirement.
The exuberant Australian has now not played an ATP Tour match for 476 days, having been sidelined with knee and wrist injuries.
His last official clash came at the Stuttgart Open on June 13 2023, where he was beaten by China’s Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3.
And he’s now taken to social media to post a picture of himself walking out on to court holding a tennis bag, writing: “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……”
Kyrgios hasn’t elaborated any further on the post, but he has sparked genuine concern from his 4.2million followers that he will soon hang up his rackets. @al_paracino asked “Announcement of retirement??” while @lenou1208 pleaded “Please come back quickly and win great matches.”
The 2022 finalist appeared to be on the road to recovery in August when h in New York. He managed an entertaining 17-8 21-9 15-11 victory over Casper Ruud, and afterwards lauded his apparent comeback.
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“I wasn’t expecting to play this well at all,” he said. “Coming out here and still having that level, it’s amazing. What a way to come back. I’ve been putting in some serious work, every single day back home.
“Obviously pretty emotional, it’s been a brutal 11 months. I didn’t know if I was going to play tennis again with the state of my wrist. It was literally conversations of never playing again.”
Having been ranked No.22 in the world at the start of 2023, the physical issues began for Kyrgios when he was forced to withdraw from the .
He duly revealed required arthroscopic surgery, and then a foot problem kept him out of the .
His plans to return to Slam action at that June were then scuppered . This year, Kyrgios claimed the same problem required innovative surgery to reduce the pain and potential for permanent arthritis.
But the controversial star hasn’t been completely absent from the limelight. This year, he debuted as a pundit and commentator at SW19 with both the and ESPN, and also worked for the latter broadcaster at the .