Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios said his life was “spinning out of control” early in his career.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist opened up about his mental health struggles and past drinking habits in the 10-part Netflix series. Tennis Documentary, “Break Point” which follows the sport’s most talented players. Episode 1 centers around Kyrgios, who has become one of the sport’s most controversial stars.
At one point, the 27-year-old Australian was in a serious conversation with his girlfriend, Costin Hatzi and his manager/close friend Daniel Horsvall, explaining how fame affected him early in his career.
“The first four or five years of my career were very chaotic,” Kyrgios said. When the horse [Horsfall] On tour with me taking care of me, when it was only him taking care of me, he could only see my mental well-being deteriorating every week. My life was like it was spinning out of control – I drink every night.”
Horsfall described that time as “difficult”, and recalled having to go out and find Kyrgios on several occasions after nights out.
“I used to have your location on my phone, and at times I would physically go to find out where you were, what hotel you were in, what house you were staying in before the tournaments, before the game,” Horsvall said. “That was hard.”
Kyrgios then explained that his struggles had changed his relationship with tennis in order for him to live a “normal” life.
“I was like, ‘Okay, I can’t keep doing this,’” Kyrgios said. “I have to be kinder to myself. For the sake of my mental health, I could never be one of those guys who play all year round. I couldn’t do that. I appreciate my family, my close friends, my best friends, and my cosie [Hatzi] Too much to put tennis in front of that anymore. I don’t think it’s healthy.
“I don’t have any expectations now in my matches. I just want to go out there and have fun, take the pressure off and then we can have a more normal life. It’s much better like that, that’s for sure.”
Kyrgios’ mother Norlila, who appears briefly in the episode from her native Australia, recalls a time when her son was “always grumpy” earlier in his career.
“I worry about him every day because he had really unhappy times,” said Norlila, later adding, “He became aggressive. He was always angry. Always angry about everything.”
Kyrgios’ mother can be seen holding a broken tennis racket, before clips of his various outbursts are played inside the court.
During Wimbledon this past July, Norlila he told Nine News I knew Kyrgios had abused himself years ago. Norlila recalled Kyrgios’ former manager, John Morris, telling her that former world number one Andy Murray came to him with concern after noticing evidence of self-harm on Kyrgios’ body while training together a few years earlier.
“I’ve seen it, and people have told me that,” Norlila told Nine News at the time. “I asked him about it and he didn’t want to talk about it at the time. John spoke to me that Andy is worried about Nick because he can see some evidence of his self-harm…and I blame other people for that. Just to pressure him and criticize him. Even people we thought might support him .
That period was very difficult. I just wanted to be by his side constantly so I could see him. If I can see him, I know he’s fine. And if I can’t see him, I worry about him so much that it becomes very difficult.”
Kyrgios, currently ranked No. 22 in the world, said in a Netflix documentary that his life changed after he defeated the game’s MVP, Rafael Nadal, at Wimbledon in 2014.
“I really didn’t know how good I was,” Kyrgios said. “When I was 17 I thought I had a growth spurt and then I started slipping and moving and things got really serious… 2014, I had my breakout at Wimbledon and it changed my life.
“I went from nobody knowing who I was, to people camping outside my house. That match changed everything. From that day on, my expectation of being the next big thing was massive.”
‘Breaking Point’ follows Kyrgios throughout the 2022 Australian Open this past January, showing his revolution as he lost in eventual four sets to Daniil Medvedev in the second round. Kyrgios smashed his racket on the court and argued with the referee.
Kyrgios had a similar breakdown during a turbulent spell at the 2022 US Open in September.
“I lose my account because of the little things that happen there,” Kyrgios said. “I have a short fuse. Almost as usual.
“In the heat of battle I’m two different people. Sometimes I push boundaries and that’s just my passion, that’s just my feeling. Millions of people are watching you not playing your best. Aren’t you going to get frustrated and angry?… I have to let it out.”
After being eliminated from the tournament in the quarter-finals by losing to Russia’s Karen Khachanov, Kyrgios threw a tantrum in court. Repeatedly He smashed his batthen grabbed a second bat and tossed it down.
In total , Kyrgios was fined $32,500 For his conduct at the 2022 US Open.
Hatzi, 22 years old He attended Kyrgios matches Throughout last year’s Australian Open and US Open. The Sydney-based blogger and Instagram influencer is seen supporting the tennis pros throughout the Netflix documentary, which shows the pair kissing and holding hands.
“He’s not as crazy as everyone thinks,” Hatzi said. “I’ve never really watched a tennis match in my life, so this is completely new to me.”
Hatzi added that she and Kyrgios had been dating for two and a half months during last year’s Australian Open, revealing that they met online and have been hanging out every day since then.
Kyrgios made his relationship official with Hatzi on Instagram in December 2021, shortly after his relationship with him The highly publicized split from his ex-girlfriend Chiara Basari. The athlete was charged with assaulting Basari as a result of an incident that occurred in late 2021.
Kyrgios is scheduled to compete in Australian Openwhich begins on January 16.
The first five episodes of “Break Point” will premiere on Netflix January 13th. A “Break Point” Part 2, which includes episodes 6 through 10, will follow in June.