"Nick Kyrgios' toxic BS behavior is not needed"; "This is low" - Fans react to insider's update on Aussie's ESPN analyst role for Australian Open

Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim recently disclosed that Nick Kyrgios will not be working for ESPN as an analyst at the 2025 Australian Open. Fans on social media, however, have been divided over the report.

Kyrgios began working as a guest commentator and analyst for ESPN in 2024 after a prolonged layoff due to his wrist injury. The former World No. 13 went on to provide his services to the global sports channel for the next three Major tournaments.

Kyrgios was rehabilitating his wrist, which led to him not playing a single competitive match last year. However, the Aussie recently announced that he would return to pro tennis in 2025. This, in turn, means that he may not have enough time to work as an analyst.

On January 2, veteran journalist Jon Wertheim took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to disclose that ESPN will not work with the 29-year-old at this year's Australian Open. The American's report has since had a mixed reception on social media.

While some fans expressed happiness at Kyrgios not being offered work owing to his controversial persona, others pointed out that it was natural for him to focus more on his campaign in Melbourne.

"Excellent, his toxic bs behaviour is not needed or wanted and ESPN doing the right thing," one fan wrote in the replies of Wertheim's X post.

"Oh come ON, Jon! Seriously? The suspended guy throwing out shade?? He's not commentating because he's PLAYING. I'm not even a Nick fan but this is low smh," another fan wrote.

Here are a few more reactions from social media:

"Desperation. Click baiting," one fan wrote.

"Finally, @espn taking a stand against a mysoginistic women beater & bully," one fan wrote.

"Um, he’s playing singles + doubles. Read into this what you will," wrote another fan.

"JW is trying to be controversial..." one fan alleged.

"STANDING OVATION. Thank you guys, well done," another fan wrote.

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Nick Kyrgios on wrist injury recovery: "I can manage it. It all really depends on how much pain I want to deal with"

Nick Kyrgios hits a forehand at Brisbane (Image via Getty)

Nick Kyrgios recently conducted a Q&A session on his Instagram handle, where one of his fans asked him about the status of his wrist injury. In response, he claimed that his wrist will likely "never be the same."

Kyrgios did, however, say that he could manage his wrist niggles in better ways now. Moreover, he also spared a word for Juan Martin Del Potro and Dominic Thiem — two players whose tennis careers were constrained by chronic wrist injuries.

"My wrist will never be the same. But I can manage it - it all really depends on how much pain I want to deal with," Nick Kyrgios said on his Instagram stories earlier this week. "Thiem & Delpo understand my pain. I will do my best - my level is still there!"

Nick Kyrgios played his first pro-tour singles match since June 2023 at this week's Brisbane International, where he crashed out in the first round of the ATP 250 tournament to France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in three sets. He has entered the Australian Open later this month using his Protected Ranking (PR).