Australian tennis enigma Nick Kyrgios has revealed Andy Murray played a major role in helping him during a “dark” mental health crisis.
Kyrgios has spoken candidly at various stages during the last two years about personal struggles, most notably in the Netflix series Break Point.
But in an interview with polarising English broadcaster Piers Morgan, the 28-year-old said Murray, the three-time major winner, took an active interest in helping turn his life around.
“Andy was always a big supporter of me,” Kyrgios said on Piers Morgan Uncensored this week.
“As soon as I came on the tour, he kind of saw a work in progress and took me under his wing.
“He saw it [the self-harm] and he said, ‘What’s that on your arm?’ It was pretty bad at that stage.
“I’d be in the locker room and people would be able to see my self-harm. So I could only imagine what people would think when they were actually versing me on the tennis court.
“They’re like, ‘Wow, this guy’s mentally in a storm at the moment, and he’s still trying to play’.
“I won tournaments on the professional tour [but was still] drinking every night, self-harming, burning things on my arm, cutting myself for fun.
“It became an addiction of pain. I hated myself. I hated waking up and being Nick Kyrgios.”
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist remains sidelined with knee and wrist issues and seems unlikely to take part in January’s Australian Open for a second-straight year.
But being able to help other vulnerable people has given Kyrgios a purpose outside of tennis.
“I’ve almost been a beacon for people who are struggling,” he said.
“When they feel like they’re overwhelmed, and they’re going towards drinking, drugs and stuff; they open up, and they feel like I’m relatable.
“That’s been the most powerful thing in my career; people coming to me with genuine issues.
“They send me photos in my Instagram, direct messages, self-harming and genuinely wanting to commit suicide.”
