Melbourne Park Australian Open Day 8 27/01/20 Nick Kyrgios (AUS)v Rafa Nadal (ESP) fourth round match Already on a suspended sentence Kyrgios smashes his racket and get a code violation from umpire James Keothavong Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios has spoken about his struggle with depression and has admitted he was in a “lonely, dark place”.
The 25-year-old told the Sydney Telegraph he first saw a doctor in 2018 to “get on top of his mental health”.
“When I was struggling – and it wasn’t just about tennis – there were moments when I was seriously depressed,” Kyrgios said.
“I remember waking up in Shanghai one year and it was 4pm and I was still in bed, curtains closed. I didn’t want to see the light of day. I felt like no one wanted to know me as a person, they just wanted to get a hold of me as a tennis player and use me.
“I didn’t feel like I could trust anyone. It was a lonely, dark place. And things came from that. I just lost joy for the game and I was spiralling out of control.”
Kyrgios, who has been regularly criticised for his on-court behaviour, has not played since February because of the COVID-19 pandemic and since dropped to No.45 in the ATP rankings.
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