Nick Kyrgios has revealed he is “very thankful” to Andy Murray after his fellow tennis star offered to help him when he spotted signs of his self-harm during a practice session.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, the Australian spoke about a “dark” period in his life he engaged in “complete harm” and explained Murray “was always someone that was looking out for me.”
In the Netflix tennis documentary Break Point that was released this year, Kyrgios opened up on his mental health struggles and divulged he was admitted to a London psychiatric hospital after Wimbledon in 2019.
In episode six, titled “Belonging”, Kyrgios said: “I was genuinely contemplating if I wanted to commit suicide. I lost at Wimbledon. I woke up and my dad was sitting on the bed, full-blown crying. That was the big wake-up call for me,” he said.
“I was drinking, abusing drugs, lost my relationship with my family, pushed all my close friends away. You could tell I was hurting. My whole arm was covered in scars. That’s why I actually got my arm sleeve. To cover it all.”
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Talk TV, Kyrgios discussed his relationship with Murray and how the 36-year-old Brit was there for him at his lowest point.
FRIDAY: Piers Morgan's interview with the bad boy of tennis Nick Kyrgios will now be airing at 8pm tomorrow (UK).
Game, set, match…@NickKyrgios | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/6UFVoSMPH0
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 30, 2023
“Andy was always a big supporter of me. As soon as I came on the tour, he kind of saw a work in progress and took me under his wing,” the 28-year-old said.
“Then he realised later in my career that I don’t think I was coachable or I was on my own path, but he was always someone that was looking out for me.
“He saw it (the self-harm) and he said, ‘What’s that on your arm?’ It was pretty bad at that stage. Andy obviously was trying to give me advice on it. But I was just so stuck in my ways at that time that I didn’t listen. Obviously I’m very thankful. I thank him a lot.
“I think it was all a year-and-a-half to two years of just complete harm. It was pretty dark to be honest. I hated myself. I hated waking up and being Nick Kyrgios.”
According to a report in The Times, Murray alerted Kyrgios’ manager John Morris to the signs he had noticed.
Kyrgios, a 2022 Wimbledon runner-up, also outlined how he helps people experiencing struggles similar to those he went through.
“I feel like I’ve helped so many people after I opened up about it and put it on social media. I’ve almost been a beacon for people who are struggling,” the former world No 13 added.
“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. I have conversations with these people. Sometimes I’ve had phone calls with these people. That’s making a real difference and I’m just really proud.”
Morgan’s full interview with Kyrgios will air at 8pm on Friday (UK time).
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans on 116 123, or visit samaritans.org.
