Tennis ace Nick Kyrgios on fortune and latest business venture, a new lager under Stryda Brewing

Move over Foster’s Lager. Tennis ace Nick Kyrgios is launching a new lager the sports star is hoping will put Australian beer on the global map. It’s the latest venture in Kyrgios’ growing fortune off the court.

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios has become one of Australia’s most savvy athlete investors with his portfolio growing rapidly to include businesses, sporting teams, more than 15 properties and now even a stake in a beer company.

Kyrgios is expanding his fast-growing business empire by launching ‘edgy’ beer, Stryda Brewing, on Thursday in a move the 28-year old is confident will resonate with younger Australians.

He is not the first athlete to dabble in alcohol ownership, Nathan Cleary’s beer Drink West, which is part owned alongside UFC stars Tyson Pedro and Tai Tuivasa, has proven a lucrative investment for the Penrith premiership winner while surfing stars Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning earned millions from Balter beer.

Now Kyrgios is gunning for a slice of the market at home and abroad with Stryda, which offers preservative free and low calorie lager options.

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has invested in a number of business ventures.

“First of all I love to have a drink myself, I’m not going to lie,” Kyrgios told this masthead.

“I love Australian brands and being on a global stage I love representing Australia and everything we stand for.

“So I’m excited to be able to put an Australian beer on the international map as well.”

Kyrgios has always been smart with his money, but in his 18-month injury-forced break from the ATP tour his empire has grown enormously.

Kyrgios already has over 4 million followers on Instagram and his podcast Good Trouble, which has featured celebrities like Gordon Ramsay and Mike Tyson, is only growing his global audience. He is his own best marketer.

“Sometimes I have a bit of impostor syndrome looking at some of the things I have been able to do in my career.” Kyrgios said.

“When I look at some of the people I have been able to get on my podcast … I know having a can of Stryda with me at all times, on my podcast and exposing it to the biggest actors and biggest names in the world that it’s going to be super successful because I can take it to a global audience.

Nick Kyrgios has expanded his fast-growing business empire by launching ‘edgy’ beer, Stryda Brewing.

“I want it to be an edgy brand that appeals to younger generations.

“Obviously there are a lot of people that hate Nick Kyrgios but there are a sea of fans that love the authenticity I have. So I think Stryda aligns with my brand, it’s raw and edgy.”

The last time Kyrgios took the court in a grand slam was two years ago in the US Open. While wrist and knee injuries have limited his time on the court, he will definitely be back on court for January’s Australian Open in Melbourne, Kyrgios has been busy building his business empire.

Kyrgios has already amassed over $18 million in prize money alone, which he has astutely invested in everything from property to sporting franchises. He also has lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Beats and Yonex.

He now has 15 properties in a growing real estate empire, which includes a luxury home in the Bahamas.

“One of the first things I ever did was buy a house in the Bahamas,” Kyrgios said.

“I’m extremely blessed that my parents were taking care of those things when I was on the other side of the world trying to chase a tennis ball around.

“They were always extremely smart and understood I was in a position where I could really set up my family and my own future family, and really take care of everything. Investment properties are a hobby for me at the moment, I definitely love doing that.”

Despite dedicating his life to tennis, Kyrgios told this masthead his first true passion was basketball.

NBL great Damien Martin interviews Nick Kyrgios, who is a part-owner of South East Melbourne Phoenix. Picture: Getty Images

So when the star was offered the opportunity to become a part owner of NBL side South East Melbourne Phoenix, he jumped at the chance.

“I’m a big NBA fan. It’s arguably my first passion and my first love, so being a part owner of the Phoenix, it’s just so cool to be a part of the basketball league in Australia,” he said.

“Having Carmelo Anthony, and all these amazing people court side, I can just see the sport in Australia growing. There is a genuine pathway now for the NBA, so for me to be there and to be a part of it, have a say in a team, I love it.

“I wouldn’t be part owner of a soccer team because I don’t have the passion but basketball was a no-brainer.”

Nick Kyrgios alongside NBA great Carmelo Anthony. Picture: Getty Images

Kyrgios is also hoping to cash-in on the growing popularity of Major League Pickleball in America, investing in a Miami-based franchise alongside fellow tennis ace Naomi Osaka and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

One of his newest ventures, ChargeFUZE, which offers portable phone chargers, has quickly grown into a market leader in the industry.

The company has already partnered with the US Open, Wimbledon, Formula 1 and is set to expand to international airports across the globe.

“It’s the second biggest portable charger business behind a Chinese brand,” Kyrgios revealed.

“One of my close friends is the founder of it, and I’m in the business now with him. The chargers are at places like the US Open, Wimbledon and some of the biggest sporting events in the world. Again, it’s been an authentic collaboration and we stand for the same things. I had to take the opportunity.”

Nick Kyrgios is at the point of his career where he “won’t work with brands”.

For Kyrgios, his entrepreneurial streak has allowed him to step out of the shadow of being tennis’ ‘bad boy.’

But it has also allowed him to grow his fortune on his own terms.

“I’m at the point in my career where I won’t work with brands,” Kyrgios said.

“Money is great but at the same time when athletes work with brands that don’t align with their morals and character you can see through it.

“You can see when they do campaigns, they are there because they have been paid to do it. There is no personality and no passion.

“I’m at a point in my career where I’m too old to fake things and that’s why I decided to invest in Stryda.”

Originally published as Tennis ace Nick Kyrgios on fortune and latest business venture, a new lager under Stryda Brewing