Nick Kyrgios, never one to shy away from candor, recently admitted that partying to the point of blacking out was once a regular feature of his life. Speaking with Wide World of Sports’ The Hundred, the 29-year-old reflected on his hard-living past and claimed that those wild days are behind him as he seeks to focus on his tennis career.
“That Used to Happen a Fair Bit”
During the conversation, Kyrgios was asked about Australians waking up after a night of partying, not knowing where they were—a scenario he suggested applies to “75%” of the population. When pressed on whether he had been part of that group in the past, Kyrgios confessed:
“Oh, that’s got to be like 75%. No, not this year, no. Okay, that used to happen a fair bit throughout my career.”
The admission painted a picture of a player who once straddled the line between professional athlete and carefree partier—a reputation Kyrgios has embraced but is seemingly eager to leave behind.
Kokkinakis’ Party Snub: A Missed Celebration
One story that continues to haunt Kyrgios is his absence from the victory party after he and Thanasi Kokkinakis won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title. While Kokkinakis celebrated their Grand Slam triumph in style, Kyrgios chose to take an early flight the next morning—a decision his doubles partner still finds frustrating.
“I remember a fun night afterward that he [Nick] wasn’t a part of because he took an early flight the next morning, which I’m still p—– off with him about!” Kokkinakis recently told Express-Sport. “So I had to do it for the both of us.”
Australian Open Comeback Ends in Disappointment
While Kyrgios claimed to have left his party-first mentality behind, his return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open didn’t yield the results he’d hoped for. In his first match back, he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Jacob Fearnley, cutting short what many fans had hoped would be a triumphant comeback.
Kyrgios’ struggles on the court may hint at lingering challenges as he works to regain the form that made him one of tennis’s most polarizing stars. Despite the loss, his openness about personal growth suggests a player seeking balance as he navigates the latter stages of his career.
What’s Next for Kyrgios?
Kyrgios remains one of the sport’s most enigmatic figures. While his talent is undeniable, his ability to harness it consistently remains a question. As he looks to rebuild his career after his Australian Open exit, fans are left wondering whether Kyrgios can truly move past the distractions of his early career to focus on fulfilling his immense potential.