Nick Kyrgios has promised there will be no more “clowning around” as he opened on his drink and drug addictions before his return to the Australian Open.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist will play in his first home Grand Slam for three years when he plays British No.3 Jacob Fearnley on Monday in the John Cain Arena.
Kyrgios, 29, played his first match since June 2022 at the Brisbane International after undergoing career-threatening wrist and knee surgeries.
But the former world No.13 has also come through off-court problems where he has previously admitted he considered suicide.
And speaking to the Herald Sun before his Australian Open return, the Aussie said: “I was to a point where I couldn’t drink or drug correctly at all. I couldn’t even go to a little function and have one (drink).
“It was out of control, so I think just having someone genuine (to talk to) and not blocking people out is a massive one. And you can’t do things on your own.’’
And Kyrgios said he was opening up to help other people who could be suffering with their mental health.
“Just for them to know this is a brutal time to be growing up in, and there is a lot of s**t going on,’’ he said.
“I think people get really internal and they try and take on their problems on their own. With social media, they are always comparing and it just becomes a bit of a rat race in your mind.
“You’ve got so much to deal with – it could be work, it could be relationships, it might be family issues – and then things just pile and pile and pile. Then you look for outlets and they are usually the worst ones.
“They (substances) are so accessible so I can completely understand how you go down that path and it’s completely OK if you start to go down that path.
“But realise that it’s not going to fix anything that is building up in you. Talk to your family and talk to your good friends.’’
Before facing Fearnley, Kyrgios warned: “I feel good. I feel like I’m enjoying more tennis a little bit now.’ I’m even enjoying my practice sessions.
“I’m very intentional with what I’m doing on court, and I know that I just can’t be clowning around anymore with my wrist. I feel good and I feel like I’m enjoying my tennis.”
But even when Kyrgios has not been playing, he has still made headlines with his repeated criticism of Jannik Sinner.
The world No.1 failed two drugs tests last March and was cleared by an independent tribunal but the World Anti-Doping Agency is now seeking a ban of up to two years. The Italian’s case will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in April
“I’m a big for-the-people guy,” Kyrgios insisted.“I genuinely care about the future of our sport as well.
“You don’t factually want our sport to be covered with people who use performance-enhancing drugs.
”It’s that simple and it’s why we have these rules in place.
“If you’re being investigated for performance-enhancing drugs, you should not be able to play while that investigation is under way.
“That makes no sense to me. Because how can you earn money, earn sponsorship, raise trophies?
“It’s not the fact I’m not with Sinner in this whole thing. It’s just like, how can anyone hear these facts and be like ‘no, he should be allowed to play’.
“How are you saying that? It doesn’t make any sense.
“And if I was in that position I would be like ‘you know what, it sucks, but I’m under investigation for a performance drug’ so I wouldn’t be acting like the victim in the whole thing.”