Nick Kyrgios denies retirement reports spurred by column

Despite declaring his time in tennis may be over in his own column, Nick Kyrgios has denied reports he is retiring from the sport.

Nick Kyrgios is enjoying life in the commentary booth. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Nick Kyrgios has backed away from retirement talk, labelling the prospect “nonsense” as he declared he still had “plenty left in the tank”.

Just hours after setting the tennis world abuzz when he wrote in a newspaper column that “part of me that knows that my time in the sport may be over”, Kyrigios took to social media to pour cold water on the suggestion his playing days were numbered.

Kyrgios said he remained as “hungry as ever” to get back on the court and told his fans to “stay tuned”.

“I have woken up today and realised about some articles going around and saying that I am retired and that I’m not going to play anymore,” Kyrgios said in a post on his Instagram stories.

“I just want to just clear it up, it’s absolute nonsense.

“Yes, the last year has been tough with injury, my knee, my wrist, but I’m hungry as ever, constantly rehabbing, in the gym.

“Part of the reason why I am commentating and doing all these things around AO is to still feel that fire and still be a part of it.

“So I still wanted to let everyone know, all my fans I’m coming back, stay tuned, but there’s plenty left in the tank. Don’t stress.”

Nick Kyrgios has denied reports he is considering retirement.

Earlier, Kyrgios, working as a commentator at the Australian Open, fuelled the retirement talk himself when he wrote he was at the “crossroads of his career” and the prospect of life after tennis “excites me” as he also ruled himself out of the Paris Olympics and fired another vicious salvo at former AOC chef de mission Kitty Chiller.

After downing American Taylor Fritz in a four-set marathon on Tuesday, all-time great Novak Djokovic told Kyrgios in an on-court interview that he hoped to soon see him back on the circuit ‘with a racquet’.

The commentary role Kyrgios has embraced this past fortnight, with ESPN and Eurosport were great, Djokovic said. But he believed the supremely talented Australian still had more to offer the sport.

“Great to see you,” Djokovic said, with genuine affection to his former sparring partner.

“You’re looking good in that booth, but looking better here.

“Hopefully with a racquet also, soon. We miss Nick!”

Novak Djokovic wants to see Nick Kyrgios back in action. Picture: Michael Klein

Kyrgios, who 18 months ago reached the Wimbledon final in his greatest grand slam result, has barely played for the past 12 months due to a number of injuries.

The 28-year-old, who last played at the Stuttgart Open in June, has long speculated that he could retire early, largely due to his lack of love for tennis.

“The reality is, there is a part of me that knows my time in the sport may be over,” Kyrgios wrote in a column for the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I’m at a crossroads in my career and have reached a point where life after tennis is a prospect that excites me.”

Kyrgios says the past fortnight, working as a commentator, has opened his eyes to a post-playing future – and could easily fast-track his retirement plans.

“I could travel the world making really good money commentating on the sport, doing things like I am now with my talk show interviewing guys like Gordon Ramsay and Mike Tyson,” he wrote.

“I know I can be one of the best in the world and win major tournaments – if my body lets me. The fire still burns, but it’s not my everything.”

Nick Kyrgios is considering switching the racquet for the microphone permanently. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

The controversial star saved one particular barb for Chiller, with whom he had a very public falling out over participation in the 2016 Olympics.

Chiller, in her role as the team’s Chef de Mission, had sent Kyrgios a ‘please explain’ document revolving around the wayward star’s behaviour.

Days later, Kyrgios withdrew from the Rio Games – sparking a vicious war of words on social media – and has said he will never compete for Australia in the Olympics.

“The way I was treated by the Australian Olympic Committee and former chef de mission Kitty Chiller will never be forgotten,” Kyrgios wrote, labelling their actions a ‘disgrace’.

“I won’t be putting my hand up to play in Paris this year. Eight years ago, I was desperate to represent Australia at an Olympic Games, but my mentality has changed.”