Nick Kyrgios is preparing for his much-awaited return to tennis with the Australian Open in 2025. After almost two years of pause, owing to major injuries in his knee and wrist, the former World No.13 will step on the court. But even after his time away from tennis, one thing that hasn’t changed in him is his quality of taking shots at his contemporaries. On his target this time is none other than former British player Andy Murray, who retired earlier this year after the Paris Olympics in August. But why is the Aussie upset with him?

In an episode of the Nothing Major podcast, dated December 14, the hosts were curious to know how Nick would like to retire when he feels like it’s4 time to call it a day. This question was also asked due to Nick finding it hard to balance his professional life because of constant injuries. In his response, Kyrgios said “I mean, I don’t think it’d be fair to kind of expect to be playing, you know, the way I was playing. But at the same time, you guys know, like, injuries are part of the sport. You know, we’ve all had injuries where they keep you out for months at a time and you come back and it, I’m not going to go out there and I haven’t barely played a match for a year and a half.”

Being someone who never minces words, Kyrgios then cited the example of Andy Murray. According to the Aussie, the Briton is one person he won’t take inspiration from for his own retirement. Nick wants to end his career on his own terms. He said “it’s kind of impossible for me to go out there and just light it up, I think, straight away or anything like that. But yeah, it’s more so about going out of my own terms. Like, I didn’t want to just have an injury and, look, I don’t want to be someone like Andy Murray, that’s for sure, like, absolutely hobbling to the finish line. No.” Not to mention that he’s annoyed by the fact that Murray is now a professional coach!

“And now he’s coaching Novak. I’m like, man, this guy actually can’t stay away from tennis. Like, he just can’t. I was like, ‘All right, he’s gonna go with his family, enjoy his life’. Then he’s like, I’m coaching Novak. I’m like, ‘Oh my God. I’d break up with him for sure’”, he added. Per Nick, Andy should have just taken a permanent break. But his urge to stay involved in the sport didn’t let him do that.

Similar to Nick, Andy was also suffering from injuries leading up to his retirement in the Paris Olympics. At the beginning of this season, he broke his ankle ligament in March. That time, he was participating in Miami. After his loss in the event, he made it evident that his retirement was inevitable. “I am planning on finishing in the summer. I don’t know what more I am supposed to say,” he said. It forced him to stay out of action for two months.

He tried to defy his state in the French Open, but failed. He was eliminated in the first round itself at the Roland Garros. Then, during the Queen’s Club Championships, he hurt his back and lost the power in his right leg due to lack of motor control. Later, various reports revealed that he had a surgery to remove a cyst from his spine. It ruled him out of the Wimbledon. At last, he decided to bring down the curtains on his career at the Olympics. Sadly, he couldn’t get a much-desired glorious farewell. The 37-year-old and his partner Dan Evans succumbed to a 6-2, 6-4 defeat in the QF round against America’s Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.

In short, Murray kept trying to get a perfect retirement, but it couldn’t happen. Then, after just a few months away from tennis, he revealed that he will be Novak Djokovic’s trainer. However, Kyrgios is not like this. “I think it’s just going out of my own terms. Like, if I don’t win a match, I don’t really care,” he concluded. Interestingly, he’s already dropped the hint for when he will hang his own racket!

Nick Kyrgios reveals bombshell update on his retirement

While the 29-year-old is gearing up for his return, he’s also clear in his mind regarding his career’s trajectory. In the same podcast, he talked about his limitations due to injuries. And how they have resulted in him making up his mind on retirement. “Every time I play tennis now, I got to do an hour and a half treatment after like my wrist. I lose feeling in my fingers sometimes. It’s tingling. So I’m definitely on the back end,” he said.

“Like it feels good, but I wouldn’t want to force it more than that. So I just want to go out and have like just have a bit of fun and hopefully have some good. If I have some great results, that’s a bonus,” he said while sharing honest thoughts on his retirement.

Dropping a shocking update, he revealed that he may stop playing after 2026. “I couldn’t see myself playing for another, max a year and a half, probably. Like with my body, honestly, with my wrist at the moment,” he said.

For the unversed, he had sustained a knee injury just before his Australian Open campaign last year. Due to a tear in his left meniscus and a cyst, he had to withdraw from the Major event. “It’s my home tournament. I’ve had some great memories here – obviously last year winning the title in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life, probably. Then going into this event as one of the favourites, it’s brutal,” said Kyrgios, as reported by the Guardian in January 2023.

Months later, he also pulled out his name from the French Open. On top of his knee injury, he ended up with a torn ligament in his wrist during practice sessions before the Wimbledon. Eventually, he had to withdraw from this tournament as well.

Next month will mark his return to action in Australia. It will be interesting to see whether he will make the most of this opportunity and win his first-ever singles Grand Slam title. That’s something he really wants to accomplish before saying goodbye to tennis. Do you think he will succeed in his goal? Let us know in the comments below.