Nick Kyrgios, the polarizing Australian tennis star, has once again captured attention with his candid revelations, this time at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh on July 30, 2025. The 30-year-old, known for his fiery on-court presence and unfiltered personality, admitted that his love for gaming once led him to skip professional tennis tournaments and training sessions. Speaking at the high-profile esports event, Kyrgios reflected on how his passion for video games, alongside basketball, often overshadowed his tennis career, particularly in its early stages. “I think my passion was basketball and gaming, and I was thrown into a sport where tennis is very clean cut,” he said. “I’ve been criticized in my career for not putting enough time on the court, and I’ve missed tournaments and training because I’ve just been gaming, purely because I love it.”
Kyrgios’s appearance in Riyadh marked a rare public moment for the former world No. 13, whose tennis career has been derailed by persistent injuries over the past two years. Since undergoing surgeries on his knee and wrist, including a full reconstruction of his right wrist’s scapholunate ligament, he has played only five singles matches in 2025, posting a 1-4 record. His most recent outing was a second-round loss to Karen Khachanov at the Miami Open in March, following a first-round win over Mackenzie McDonald—his first victory since 2022. Despite these setbacks, Kyrgios’s charisma and willingness to embrace his unconventional path continue to make him a compelling figure. His presence at the Esports World Cup, where he engaged with fans and gamers, underscored his lifelong connection to gaming, a passion that once saw him glued to his console for nine-hour sessions. “When I played those nine-hour gaming sessions when we were younger, I guess my mum didn’t think this was possible,” he quipped, gesturing to the competitive esports scene around him.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist’s journey has been anything but conventional. Raised in Canberra, Kyrgios was pushed into tennis despite his heart leaning toward basketball and gaming. “I’m very rough around the edges, and I didn’t really fit the mould for a tennis player,” he admitted in Riyadh. “I really struggled with that early in my career.” His rebellious streak often clashed with tennis’s polished culture, leading to memorable moments like “throwing F-bombs” in front of the Royal Box during his 2022 Wimbledon final loss to Novak Djokovic. Yet, Kyrgios now embraces his outsider status, saying, “I’m glad I’m able to put on a show.” His candidness about past struggles, including missing tournaments to stay in his room gaming, paints a picture of a player torn between his natural talent and personal passions.
Kyrgios’s love for gaming has deep roots. His mother, Norlaila, once recounted how he would play until his shoulder ached, even refusing family outings—like a visit to the Great Wall of China during a Beijing tournament—to stay in his hotel room with his console. This obsession, while a source of joy, contributed to his reputation for inconsistent commitment to tennis. Critics have long pointed to his raw talent—boasting a bigger serve and more powerful groundstrokes than legends like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—as evidence of unfulfilled potential. Despite reaching the 2022 Wimbledon final and the 2022 US Open quarterfinals, where he defeated then-No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, Kyrgios has yet to claim a Grand Slam singles title. His seven ATP singles titles, the most recent at the 2022 Washington Open, highlight his capability, but injuries and distractions have stalled his progress.
The past two years have been particularly grueling. After a promising 2022, where he also won the Australian Open doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kyrgios’s body betrayed him. A knee surgery in 2023, followed by wrist issues that began after a fall at Indian Wells in 2015, sidelined him for most of 2023 and 2024. His attempted comeback at the 2025 Australian Open ended in a first-round loss to Jacob Fearnley, exacerbated by a grade 1 abdominal strain from the Brisbane International. “Realistically, I can’t really see myself playing singles match here again,” a dejected Kyrgios said after the defeat, citing physical struggles that saw his serve, once a weapon, dip below 200 km/h. His withdrawal from Wimbledon 2025, announced in June due to a “small setback” in his recovery, marked his third consecutive absence from the grass-court major.
Beyond the court, Kyrgios has carved out a new niche as a broadcaster and podcast host. His show, *Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios*, features high-profile guests like Mike Tyson and Naomi Osaka, offering a platform for his unfiltered takes. His outspoken criticism of players like Jannik Sinner during recent doping controversies has kept him in the headlines, even as his playing career falters. As he navigates his future, Kyrgios remains defiant about his legacy. “I’m happy to play through a bit of discomfort,” he said in January, driven by a desire to retire on his terms. Whether he returns to competitive tennis or leans further into gaming and media, Kyrgios’s raw honesty and larger-than-life presence ensure he remains a force in the sport’s narrative, challenging its norms at every turn.
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