"I've been a mess my entire life" - Nick Kyrgios opens up about overcoming suicidal tendencies & mental health struggles

Nick Kyrgios recently opened up about his struggles with self-harm and suicidal thoughts and finding his way out of them. The Australian has been away from tennis since June 2023, nursing a wrist injury.

Kyrgios has been vocal about his mental health struggles and recently, he shed some light on the early parts of his career in an Instagram video. The Aussie, who catapulted into the limelight after his surprising win against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2014, talked about how his struggles helped him learn important life lessons.

"I used to struggle a lot, early parts of my career, 2019, obviously self-harming and went through that stage when I was suicidal. I feel like I was able to learn so much through that and make it out of it and still play at absolute top level," Nick Kyrgios said.

The Wimbledon 2022 finalist laid bare his feelings and said he was not as perfect as other tennis players such as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. He added that he was one of the people who needed external help to work through his issue.

"Everyone goes through these problems, they have issues they need help with and I was one of those people, so you have to take care of yourself... I am not perfect and you look at some other tennis players, they were pictured to be gods, super-playing kind of perfect," Kyrgios said.

Kyrgios said that even though he had been a 'mess' his entire life but was still able to deal with his struggles and have fun.

"I have been a mess basically my entire life and I am still able to come out and help people endure my way and have some fun," he added.

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Nick Kyrgios on NK foundation: "It’s a very powerful thing"

Nick Kyrgios at the 2023 Australian Open (Image: Getty)

Nick Kyrgios also talked about his off-court endeavors like his talk show, 'Good Trouble' and NK Foundation, in the aforementioned Instagram video. In 2018, Kyrgios launched the NK Foundation to help underprivileged kids have access to sports facilities, such as tennis courts, basketball courts, a pool, gym. In the video, the former World No. 13 said he wanted to give people hope that they too, can overcome their problems.

"So I hope that ‘Good Trouble’ and all these amazing things that I am doing off the court can give other people hope that if I am able to do it, then you can do it as well," Kyrgios said.

Kyrgios further remarked that his foundation has proven to be a 'big motivation' for him and helps him move 'with purpose'.

"The NK foundation was a big, big motivation of mine. It has been a couple of ‘make a wish’ kids have their last wish to meet Nick Kyrgios. I am actually still in contact with one of the guys named Brooklyn. He thinks I am helping him but the amount of things he is helping me, to keep moving with purpose and to keep doing all this stuff has been superb. It’s a very powerful thing," he continued.

Nick Kyrgios is set to return to tennis at the US Open for the Fan Week event, US Open Mixed Madness, partnering with Naomi Osaka.