Arms outstretched, Nick Kyrgios fell flat on his back to absorb match-point moment at Wimbledon today.
The 40th-ranked Kyrgios swept Cristian Garin to reach his first major semifinal at Wimbledon and become the first Australian man to progress to a Grand Slam final four since his Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt back in 2005.
A revitalized Kyrgios celebrated this career highlight looking up while recalling how devastatingly down he once was..
Afterward, Kyrgios confessed a bout with depression left him in a dark place with suicidal thoughts.
“[I was thinking] just how things can change. There was a point where I was almost done with the sport,” Kyrgios told the media at Wimbledon. “Obviously, I posted this year about the kind of mental state I was in in 2019 when I was at the Australian Open with self-harm and suicidal thoughts and stuff.
“I’m sitting there today after the match… To be a semifinalist at Wimbledon, it’s a special accomplishment for everyone, but I think especially for me.”
Eight years after he shocked Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon en route to his first quarterfinal appearance, Kyrgios will face 22-time Grand Slam king Nadal in Friday’s semifinals.
Kyrgios believes his Wimbledon journey isn’t done yet.
“If you asked anyone if I was able to do that the last couple years, I think everyone would have probably said, No, he doesn’t have the mental capacity, he doesn’t have the fitness capacity, he doesn’t have the discipline, all that,” Kyrgios said. “I almost started doubting myself with all that traffic coming in and out of my mind.
“I just sat there today and soaked it all in. There’s just so many people I want to thank. At the same time I feel like I don’t want to stop here either.”
Kyrgios has crafted career revival just a few years after calling it quits and attributes his resurgence to regaining his love for the game.
“Obviously had thoughts the last year, year and a half, whether I wanted to play anymore,” Kyrgios said. “Lost the love, lost the fire, lost the spark. Then some things just changed in my life. I don’t know. I kind of just rediscovered that I’ve got a lot of people that want me to play, that I play for. I’ve got a lot left in the tank. I feel like I’m probably playing some of my best tennis, mentally feeling great.”
Photo credit: Getty
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