‘Tired’ Nick Kyrgios no longer wants to play tennis

Nick Kyrgios says he no longer wants to play tennis as doubts grow over the former Wimbledon finalist's ability to come back from serious knee and wrist injuries.

Kyrgios maintains he will make a comeback and retire on his terms, even though he only played one match in 14 months and was removed from the world rankings.

But the 28-year-old also admits he is “exhausted” from the tour and that, in an ideal world, his career would be over.

“If it was up to me, I don't really want to play anymore to be honest,” Kyrgios told the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast.

“I almost have to (keep playing). I have so much more to give but, for me, I don't want to play anymore.

“I'm exhausted, I'm tired. I've had three surgeries now… I'm only 28, I always wanted to have a family and not suffer. When I get up, I can” I don't walk without pain.

“This is a difficult work.”

Kyrgios also told the British podcaster that if he had started his time over again, he would never have picked up a racket for the first time.

Last week, the mercurial talent made the “heartbreaking” but almost inevitable decision to officially withdraw from next month's Australian Open after losing to Chinese world number 64 Yibling Wu in straight sets in his only match competition in 2023, in Stuttgart in June.

The former world No.13 will instead take to commentary at Melbourne Park, but insists he will return, however reluctantly, to the field in 2024 with a protected ranking of No.21.

“I just want to play one or two more years, be at the top and follow my own terms,” Kyrgios said.

“I would hate to have another surgery or something like that. So I think I still have the ability to go for a good year or two and then that's it.

“I think I'll be at peace with everything I've accomplished. I'm going to have to say to everyone who wants me to play more: 'You're just going to have to agree with me, not I'm not playing anymore.' “

After undergoing knee surgery in January, Kyrgios went under the knife again in October after tearing ligaments in his right wrist.

Former US Open finalist Juan Martin del Potro initially made a successful comeback from a similar injury, but has not played since February last year.

Australian tennis great John Newcombe is not completely giving up on Kyrgios' comeback, but acknowledged the difficult road ahead for the Canberran.

“I don't know much about his injury but it seems to be dragging on and it's going to be difficult to recover from because he's getting older every year and he's been out for quite a while now,” Newcombe told AAP.

“So it's hard to come back strong, but if he can get the wrist right, he'll have a big game and he can win a lot of easy points.”