“I’ve missed tournaments and training because I’ve just been gaming”: Nick Kyrgios claims he was thrown into tennis with passion lying elsewhere

Nick Kyrgios, the enigmatic Australian tennis star, has never shied away from speaking his mind, but his latest revelations have sent shockwaves through the tennis world. At 30, the former world No. 13 admitted during an interview at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh that tennis was never his true calling. Instead, his heart has always belonged to basketball and gaming, passions that led him to skip tournaments and training sessions in favor of marathon gaming sessions. “I think my passion was basketball and gaming, and I was thrown into a sport where tennis is very clean cut,” Kyrgios confessed, shedding light on a career defined by brilliance, controversy, and a persistent sense of not quite fitting in.

Kyrgios’s journey in tennis has been anything but conventional. Bursting onto the scene in 2014 with a stunning upset over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, he quickly established himself as one of the sport’s most electrifying talents. His powerful serve, flamboyant shot-making, and fearless attitude saw him defeat each of the “Big Three”—Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Nadal—in their first encounters, a feat achieved by only two other players. His career peaked in 2022, reaching the Wimbledon singles final, where he pushed Djokovic to four sets, and winning the Australian Open doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis. Yet, despite seven ATP singles titles and a career-high ranking of No. 13, Kyrgios’s potential has often been overshadowed by injuries and off-court distractions. “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,” he said, reflecting on the choices that have drawn ire from purists.

The Canberra native’s love for gaming is no secret. From clutching his Nintendo Switch at tournaments to immersing himself in Pokémon Go, Kyrgios has long embraced a gamer’s lifestyle. During his youth, he indulged in nine-hour gaming marathons, a habit his mother, Nill, never imagined could lead to a competitive outlet like esports. “When I played those nine-hour gaming sessions when we were younger, I guess my mum didn’t think this was possible [playing esports competitively],” Kyrgios mused. His appearance at the Esports World Cup underscores a growing interest in a world where he feels more at home than on the pristine lawns of Wimbledon, where he once famously unleashed “F-bombs” in front of the Royal Box during his 2022 final against Djokovic. “I’m very rough around the edges, and I didn’t really fit the mold for a tennis player,” he admitted, embracing the rebellious persona that has both endeared and alienated him.

Kyrgios’s 2025 season has been a stark reminder of his physical fragility. After nearly two years sidelined by wrist and knee surgeries, he returned in December 2024 at the Brisbane International, only to suffer a first-round loss at the Australian Open to Britain’s Jacob Fearnley. “Realistically, I can’t really see myself playing singles match here again,” he said post-match, his serve—a weapon that once terrorized opponents—dipping below 200 km/h. Further setbacks forced withdrawals from the French Open and Wimbledon, leaving him with just five singles matches this year and a 1-4 record. Now ranked No. 642, Kyrgios recently pulled out of singles at the Washington Open due to a knee issue but competed in doubles with Gaël Monfils, hinting at a shift toward less physically demanding roles in the sport.

His candid admissions in Riyadh reflect a man at a crossroads. Early in his career, Kyrgios struggled with tennis’s rigid expectations, feeling alienated in a sport he described as “very proper.” “I really struggled with that early in my career. Now I’m embracing it, and I’m glad I’m able to put on a show,” he said, acknowledging his evolution from reluctant prodigy to unapologetic entertainer. Off the court, he has found new avenues to express himself, hosting the podcast *Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios*, where guests like Mike Tyson and Naomi Osaka discuss defying norms. His vocal criticism of Jannik Sinner’s three-month doping suspension further cements his role as tennis’s outspoken disruptor.

As Kyrgios contemplates his future, his love for gaming and basketball may guide his next chapter. While he harbors ambitions to take “one more shot” at a Grand Slam, his body’s limitations and wavering passion suggest retirement looms. “I’m not going to change for anyone,” he declared, a mantra that encapsulates his defiant legacy. Whether on the court or behind a gaming console, Kyrgios remains a polarizing figure—forever the rebel who played tennis his way.

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