Nick Kyrgios never read Shane Warne’s open letter

Nick Kyrgios was the most talked about Australian athlete when Shane Warne sent him a letter. The tennis star never read it.

Nick Kyrgios was the most talked about Australian athlete when Shane Warne sent him a letter. The tennis star never read it.

The former Wimbledon finalist on Saturday (AEDT) opened up in a revealing sit-down with Piers Morgan and has been widely praised for comments he made about the mental health issues athletes face.

He also spoke candidly about the racism himself and his family have experienced in Australia since he rocketed to fame.

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Morgan also asked Kyrgios a difficult question about the infamous scandals that plagued his earlier years on the ATP Tour — headlined by his ugly remark about Stanislas Wawrinka’s former girlfriend Donna Vekic. He was in the same year suspended for 16 weeks by the ATP Tour after a string of behavioural issues.

Morgan asked Kyrgios about an open letter Warne posted on Facebook at the time where the cricket icon told him to “grow up”.

In a post liked more than 3000 times, Warne suggested Kyrgios should have been banned for 12 months if he’d continued to disrespect the sport.

“Nick, grow up, you’ve got an unbelievable talent, be the best tennis player you can, be silly, have fun, but just don’t be stupid,” Warne wrote.

Shane Warne and Nick Kyrgios.

“That might be the pot calling the kettle black, because I’ve done some stupid things, but here’s the thing, I’m nearly 48 years of age and I’ve learnt from my mistakes.

“I’ve been there and I’ve done that, and I actually think in a funny sort of way I could probably help Nick Kyrgios a lot.”

Kyrgios told Morgan this week he never read the message.

“I saw it and didn’t read it, but yeah, look, I feel like I’ve been the closest Australian player in the last decade to win a Grand Slam. I made the final. I’ve had a pretty successful career. I feel like I’ve won a lot more than I’ve lost,” he told Piers Morgan Uncensored.

“Able to provide for my family, friends and yeah respected by millions around the world, obviously. And yeah, I’ve done it my way. At the end of the day, I know that there’s other Australian athletes who just wanted to see me succeed.

“I’ve only ever supported most of them as well and I’ve only wanted the best for them. I’ve never, never going to be the first one to go out on social media and put someone down. If someone does that to me, I’ll respond. But yeah, I look back at that letter and I look back at how far I’ve come and I’d say he would be proud for sure.”

Warne is far from the only Aussie sporting icon outside of tennis to speak out about Kyrgios with former AFL player Wayne Carey last year saying Kyrgios had hidden behind a lie about his professionalism throughout his entire career.

Shane Warne's Facebook letter in 2015.

Warne at the time also did an interview talking about Kyrgios where he said Australia was ready to embrace the tennis player if he started to show respect to the sport.

“Because we all want him to do well, and hoping the penny drops and he performs well, we’re a bit lenient on him,” Warne said.

“I think if we actually punished him properly, the next time he steps out of line, say: ‘This is unacceptable’. Whether it be from the Australian tennis, or whatever, if you want to be a tennis player for Australia and represent your country, we’ll embrace you, your flair, your character.

“We’re happy for you to do some silly things if that’s what you want to do. No problem.

“But if you overstep the line, smashing, throwing your racquet, abusing people, just belittling people, and not showing respect for the game ... we might ban you for 12 months.”

Warne said it was crucial Kyrgios kept his flair but just toned down the antics.

Warne’s own career had the same arc of being plagued by early scandals but he finished his cricket career as one of the greatest to ever play the sport — and one of the most loved Australian athletes of al time. Warne died in March 2022 from a suspected heart attack. He was 52.

Nick Kyrgios pushed Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

“He’s so talented, super talented, but I don’t think he respects the game. McEnroe respected the game,” he said.

“He’s openly said he doesn’t like tennis ... well, what are you doing it for?

“That’s why you’re seeing some of the things happening with Kyrgios.

You’ve got to remember he’s young, too. But all I’d like to see him do is respect the game and give himself a chance.

“I think all of Australia want to like Kyrgios. We want to barrack for him. But we all eye-roll and go ‘What did you do that for? What a so-and-so’.

“That’s disappointing for everyone. We don’t like him to do that stuff.

“There’s still room for his flair and to be a character, but stepping over the line and being a spoilt brat at 20 years of age, or 21 or whatever he is, it’s just not good. You can’t do that in this current day.”

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios never read Shane Warne’s open letter