Kyrgios Nears Retirement, Plans Final Shot at Australian Open Glory

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, once ranked as high as No. 13 in the ATP world rankings, has hinted that the end of his career may be approaching as injuries continue to take their toll. The 29-year-old was forced to withdraw from this month’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) event in Hong Kong due to a lingering knee issue but still made his presence felt — this time not on the court, but behind the microphone and on the sidelines.

Instead of competing, Kyrgios joined the UTS broadcast team as a commentator and took on a new role as a coach, mentoring veteran French player Richard Gasquet in what marked his first coaching appearance. The shift offered a glimpse into what may lie ahead for the mercurial Australian, whose on-court brilliance has often been matched by a flair for entertainment and unfiltered honesty.

In a recent episode of his show “Unscripted,” Kyrgios opened up candidly about his physical struggles and the emotional difficulty of facing the twilight of his career.

“I do know that I'm getting to the end of my tennis career now, especially with all these injuries,” he said. “I can't do another surgery where you're out for another six to nine months.”

Since reaching his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2022, where he fell to Novak Djokovic in four sets, Kyrgios has endured a string of injuries that have derailed what once seemed to be a late-career surge. Later that same year, he advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals, reaffirming his potential to challenge for major titles. But since then, injuries have kept him from building any sustained momentum.

Over the last three years, Kyrgios has played in just one of the 12 Grand Slam tournaments, missing significant time due to ankle, foot, and wrist issues. Despite boasting seven ATP singles titles and a 2022 Australian Open doubles crown alongside close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kyrgios has managed only one ATP-level match across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

His much-anticipated return to Grand Slam competition came in January 2025 at the Australian Open, but his campaign ended quickly with a first-round defeat. Since then, he has appeared in only five total matches this year before being sidelined again in March with his persistent knee injury.

Although his professional calendar has been sparse, Kyrgios remains determined to stay connected to tennis in some capacity. Later this year, he plans to participate in two December exhibition events: The Garden Cup at Madison Square Garden on December 8, and a “Battle of the Sexes”-style match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai on December 28. Both appearances will mark his first on-court outings since his injury hiatus and could serve as informal farewells ahead of what he has described as his final competitive chapter.

While the path ahead remains uncertain, Kyrgios confirmed that he intends to make a final appearance at the Australian Open, his home Grand Slam, where his charisma and crowd connection have long made him a fan favorite.

“Yeah, I'll probably play the Aussie Open in some way,” he said. “I'm not too sure what events I'll play, but I definitely will say goodbye at the Aussie Open at least one more time.”

Kyrgios’s comments suggest that while his days as a full-time tour competitor may be numbered, his love for the game — and the showmanship that has made him one of tennis’s most polarizing and magnetic figures — endures. Whether as a player, coach, or broadcaster, his presence in the sport seems far from over.

For now, fans can look forward to seeing one of Australia’s most gifted yet enigmatic athletes take the court at least once more — perhaps for a final farewell fitting of the career that has thrilled, frustrated, and captivated the tennis world in equal measure.

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