Nick Kyrgios has criticised Australia’s expectations of athletes

Nick Kyrgios has channelled the infamous line once used against LeBron James that athletes should “shut up and dribble”.

Nick Kyrgios when he pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

NBA superstar LeBron James was famously once advised to “shut up and dribble”.

It came from American Fox News host Laura Ingraham in response to James’ comments about politics and Donald Trump, among other topics, back in 2018.

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Ingraham received plenty of backlash, and some support, on the polarising issue of athletes being role models and how outspoken they can or should be.

It seems Nick Kyrgios feels a similar perception from Australian fans to the one Ingraham was trying to assert on James, according to an interview the tennis star conducted with The Athletic.

Kyrgios, 28, has barely been seen in 2023, playing just one match due to injury.

During his lay-off, the Canberra has turned his talented hands to other pursuits, including tennis commentary, his own interviewing project and a collaboration to share content on OnlyFans.

Nick Kyrgios, seen here with NBA player John Wall in Melbourne, has barely been seen on a tennis court this year. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Speaking from Los Angeles, Kyrgios said he believes Australians prefer athletes to perform their chosen sport and that’s about it.

“I feel more respected here,” he said about the US.

“(Australians) don’t expect athletes to do anything else but play their sport, which is really weird.

“I definitely see myself coming back (to the ATP Tour) at some stage and playing at a high level again.

“But because of how intense last year was for me, this was a year to just balance it out.”

Kyrgios is referring to his 2022 season, which was among the most successful of his decade-long career.

Appearing in 13 tournaments, Kyrgios won his seventh career singles title in Washington along with four quarter-finals and three semi-final appearances, finishing with a 37-10 record and banking almost US$3 million ($4.55 million).

Kyrgios posted this photo to Instagram after a knee operation.

Nick Kyrgios and Costeen Hatzi in Spain. Photo: Instagram

Oh and there was also that landmark Wimbledon final, winning five straight matches at the All England Club, getting a walkover against an injured Rafael Nadal in the semis and then going down to former nemesis and now mate, Novak Djokovic, in four sets.

Fast forward 12 months and Kyrgios’ entire season reads: 0-1 record, 0 titles and US$8,281 in prizemoney.

So a 2023 blighted by injuries and hospital visits must have been unbearable, right? Wrong.

Kyrgios described them as “equally enjoyable”.

“I played a full year last year, no injuries, had great results, had a great year,” Kyrgios said.

“I barely played this year, two surgeries, and now still, I would probably say they’re both equally as fine, which is crazy.

Nick Kyrgios (right) on a recent collaboration with retired NBA stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Photo: Twitter

“Most tennis players would be like ‘this was just depressing’. People would be struggling, they would be like ‘what do I do, who’s my identity?’.

“This year, it’s been equally as enjoyable as last year. That’s just my personality and how different it is. That’s the crazy thing.”

A lot of that is down to the fact Kyrgios was able to spend extended time with friends, family and partner Costeen Hatzi without the grind of Tour travel.

That 2022 output had also taken a major toll.

“I was spent after I got home after the US Open (in November 2022), I was cooked,” he said.

“I was so mentally fried. I was just so tired. Physically, I felt fine but just mentally, I was over it. So maybe this year is a counterbalance.”

Life lately has been incredible pic.twitter.com/uxuC5GC7Md

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 3, 2023

There have been some rumblings Kyrgios may in fact never return to a professional tennis court.

Despite his increasing interests away from the court, at just 28, that would seem unlikely from the outside at least.

He had surgery on his wrist eight weeks ago and isn’t expected back until sometime into 2024, having confirmed his withdrawal from next month’s Australian Open.

But he also has little doubt he still has the ability to compete at a very high level.

“It’s been a minute,” he said of his break from the sport.

“(But) I still feel like if you put a racquet in my hand, it wouldn’t feel foreign at all.”

Check out the full interview with Nick Kyrgios at The Athletic.