Nick Kyrgios has emphatically returned serve on ugly rumours that have been swirling surrounding his career.
After enjoying the most successful year of his career, the 28-year-old has been struck down by injuries throughout the entirety of the 2023 season.
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Kyrgios has played just once in 2023 — a loss in Stuttgart, Germany, in June ahead of Wimbledon as a result of injuries.
He pulled out of the Australian Open this year with a knee injury and underwent surgery.
He then pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon, citing a wrist injury.
In early August the mercurial Aussie withdrew from the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open.
Rumours have swirled all year long that his playing future may be on the brink of coming to an end.
He shut them down this week with an upload to his personal Instagram account.
“To my millions of fans out there, I guess we just have to be patient. Trust me, I still have some fire left in the tank, my body just needs time to recover and get back. Everything off-court is doing great. l am eyeing to come back and have a season like my last again,” he wrote.
Kygrios fuelled the rumour mill when he stated there is zero chance he’ll be on the circuit playing professionally in five years time.
“No f***ing chance. No way. Bro, there’s no chance I’m playing until 33,” he said at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown.
“Kyrgios playing until 33 is insane. I’m not playing until 33. Nah, I promise you, when I’m gone, you’ll never see me again. The schedule is out of control. I’m getting old. 28. Yeah. But all the drinking and partying, I’m like 57.”
Kyrgios famously said just hours before he withdrew from Wimbledon this year that he does not enjoy playing tennis.
When asked if he missed the sport, he replied: “No, I don’t miss the sport at all, to be fair. I was almost dreading coming back a little bit. But it’s my job”.
Kyrgios has kept busy with his time off the court, making perhaps the biggest commitment of his life so far.
Taking to Instagram, Kyrgios checked in at Ganga Tattoo LA in northwest Los Angeles where he unveiled a sprawling tattoo covering his entire back with Pokemon characters.
Posting photos, the tennis star was keen to show off his new ink.
“Five artists at once at one of the best studios in the world,” Kyrgios posted to his story on Tuesday.
“Wish me luck, back is getting completely covered.”
“Studio days in LA” he captioned the photos, showing multiple tattoo artists simultaneously working on the piece.
The artwork features the likes of infamous Pokemon characters Blastoise, Gyarados, Mewtwo and Snorlax.
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