I’m contemplating retirement and won’t be available for the Paris Olympics

I sat down with my agent, Stuart Duguid, a couple of days ago to talk about my future. The reality is, there is a part of me that knows my time in the sport may be over. And I’m OK with that.

It’s a conversation that needed to be had. I’m at a crossroads in my career and have reached a point where life after tennis is a prospect that excites me.

It’s why my manager brought it up. He said, “This could be you from now on if you want it to be.” 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.

That’s a life people wish they had. Even the players on the circuit would love to be doing what I am doing now, but they have a different way of thinking.

They don’t have the global reach that I do. Otherwise, they would be doing it too. Their entire world revolves around playing tennis, and that’s never been me.

Even over the past week being at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, I’ve been happy. Of course, there’s a part of me watching on that would love nothing more than to be out there, especially after what I managed to do at Wimbledon 18 months ago in reaching the final against Novak Djokovic.

Nick Kyrgios is looking at the next stage of his working career.Credit: Getty Images

I sit there and watch some of the players on tour and know within myself that this generation is not as strong as some of the players I have gone up against.

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.

It annoys me that there are people out there who think that I don’t want to be out there. It’s as if they think I don’t want to play and make excuses with my injuries.

It happened last year when I pulled out of the United Cup. I know that guys like Lleyton Hewitt and Alex de Minaur were disappointed in me for pulling out of the tournament two days before the event, but we’re 12 months on, and I still haven’t played.

‘I know I can be one of the best in the world and win major tournaments - if my body lets me.’

It was that serious that I pulled out of my home grand slam in front of my friends and family.

I don’t know when I will be back. I’m hoping I can recover from the wrist injury that required surgery last year in time for Wimbledon and the US Open, but that’s no guarantee. My body may never be the same again and injuries can take you down a different path than you imagined.

One thing I will guarantee, though, is that if I am fit and ready to play, I won’t be making myself available for the Olympics.

The way I was treated by the Australian Olympic Committee and former chef de mission Kitty Chiller will never be forgotten.

To ban me from playing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games was a disgrace. I was No.13 at the time and had a genuine chance at winning a medal. For them to forbid me from representing my country for behavioural reasons is something that I just can’t forget.

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.

I wanted to play for my country, I can’t say that I still have that desire. And let’s be honest, I haven’t exactly felt like Australia has wanted me to represent it either. I’ve said before, I often feel more at home away from home.

Some people are rejoicing in the fact that I’m not playing. I think the crowds and viewership at the Australian Open the past couple of years tell a different story.

Sport is entertainment and I like to think that I’ve put on a show. But the curtain has to close at some point.

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