Nick Kyrgios reveals he was “getting out of control” after falling into depression on tour

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios revealed he didn’t want to “see the light of day” after falling into a spiral of depression on tour.

The 25-year-old revealed in 2018 that he started seeing a psychologist and has now reopened his mental health struggles in an incredibly touching and candid interview.

Kyrgios reflected on believing that people just wanted to “use” him for his tennis skills – with his situation coming to obscurity in a Shanghai hotel room.

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios talked about his struggles to cope with depression during the tour

He told the Sunday Telegraph in Sydney: ‘When I was wrestling – and it wasn’t just tennis – there were times when I was seriously depressed.

‘I remember waking up in Shanghai one year and it was 4pm and I was still in bed with the curtains closed. I didn’t want to see the light of day.

‘I felt like no one wanted to know me as a person, they just wanted to contact me as a tennis player and use me. I didn’t feel like I could trust anyone. It was a lonely and dark place. And things came from that.

The 25-year-old recalled being in a room in Shanghai and not wanting to ‘see the light of day’

‘A lot of people were putting pressure on me, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I just lost my joy in the game and was getting out of control.

‘I fell into depression because of the things I thought I should be. I was afraid to go out and talk to people because I thought I was letting them down because I wasn’t winning games. ‘

The talented Aussie is a polarizing figure in the sport and has often been maligned for his behavior on the pitch.

Kyrgios was hit with a string of fines and was also sentenced to a suspended ban of 16 weeks and a fine of around £ 20,000 in September for “aggregate behavior”.

Kyrgios has proved himself a polarizing figure, but this year he has endeared himself with altruistic acts

The world’s number 45 has grown dear this year, however, following his pledge to donate $ 200 (£ 152) for every ace he has registered for a month to help fire aid.

Rally for Relief, a fundraiser that raised around £ 3.7m for victims, was also hosted by Kyrgios in January. Several greats participated, including Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Kyrgios stayed in Canberra and helped deliver food and supplies to families unable to leave their homes.