The future is looking uncertain for Nick Kyrgios.
As he faces concerns about whether he’ll be able to return to professional tennis, another troubling issue has arisen.
The former Wimbledon finalist disclosed on Wednesday that he has received a provisional suspension from the sport after testing positive for cocaine during a low-tier tournament in Mallorca this past June.
Kyrgios acknowledged his mistake, stating, “I made a big mistake and I take full responsibility for it.”
He continued on Instagram, explaining, “I’m not making excuses, but I want to share a bit about what I’ve been going through. My injuries over the last couple of years have really taken a toll on me physically and mentally. It’s tough when your body can’t keep up with what your mind wants, and coming to terms with the possibility of my career ending is harder than I thought.”
It’s important to note that cocaine is prohibited as a performance-enhancing substance during competitions, yet sanctions may be lighter if it’s used outside of an event.
Kyrgios mentioned that accepting his potential career end after years of injuries has been quite challenging.
“I’ve always said tennis chose me, not the other way around,” he reflected. “Letting go of something that’s been my life has been one of the toughest experiences I’ve had. Sometimes, I’ve felt so lost and isolated. Still, none of that excuses my actions.”
Once hailed as a promising talent in the sport, thanks to his dynamic style of play, Kyrgios often found himself in the spotlight for his outspoken behavior both in and out of matches.
For example, during a 2015 match at the Rogers Cup, his fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis made remarks to opponent Stan Wawrinka about an alleged romantic encounter involving Wawrinka’s girlfriend, fellow player Donna Vekic.
Kyrgios had a notable outburst during a recent Grand Slam match, which ended with a racket-slamming incident in his defeat against Karen Khachanov at the 2022 US Open.
Off the court, his personal life has had its complexities, including a turbulent breakup with Chiara Passari, during which he pleaded guilty to assault after incident in 2021.
A judge later dismissed the charges against him, recognizing the lengthy delay in filing for the case and the media attention surrounding it.
Kyrgios has also been open about his struggles with mental health, having been hospitalized for suicidal thoughts following his second-round loss at Wimbledon in 2019. He admitted to previously “drinking every night” early in his career.
The International Tennis Integrity Authority stated that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22, after his Wimbledon participation, with the positive result confirmed on July 17.
He had received a wildcard for doubles at Wimbledon last month, but he and his partner Alexander Bublik were knocked out in the first round.
The interim suspension was mandated on August 4, and Kyrgios has chosen not to appeal, according to the ITIA.
“The positive side is that this has been a wake-up call for me,” Kyrgios expressed. “I’ll be taking a break from social media and public life for the next 28 days to focus on bettering myself.”
His career reached its high point in 2022 when he finished as the runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the singles final, but a string of injuries, particularly to his wrist and knee, soon disrupted his progress.
Consequently, his ranking has now fallen to 919th place.
