128 Nick Kyrgios Opens Up On Wild Career Rock Bottom Off Court Earnings Tennis Comeback

Worried about what ingredients are hiding in your groceries? Let us take the guesswork out.

We're Thrive Market, the online grocery store with the highest quality standards in the industry.

We restrict 1,000 plus ingredients, so you can trust that you'll only find the best high-quality

organic and sustainable brands, all free of the junk. With savings up to 30% off and fast

carbon-neutral shipping, you get top-trusted groceries at your door, and you can stop

worrying about what your kids get their hands on. Start shopping at thrivemarket.com slash podcast

for 30% off your first order and a free gift. Ever wonder what your lashes are destined for?

The cards have spoken. Maybelline New York Mascara does it all. Whether you crave fully

fan lashes with lash sensational, big, bold volume from the colossal, a dramatic lift with

falsies lash lift, or natural-looking volume from great lash, your perfect lash future awaits.

Manifest your best mascara today. Shop Maybelline New York and discover your lash destiny.

Shop now at Walmart. I'm Mike Boris, and this is Straight Talk,

Look. That's a fucking unreal question.

Nick Kyrgios. Welcome to Straight Talk, mate.

Do not entertain.

Is there a Nick Kyrgios in public that's different to say the Nick Kyrgios when he's at home with

Kostein?

A hundred percent. I was trying to be someone else first half of my career. I wasn't ready to

have so many expectations and everyone else's opinion of how I should be.

It was to the point where...

Where the rock star or the Nick Kyrgios was like, I couldn't separate the two. I was partying

until 4 or 5 am. I think that's when I hit my darkest point. I just didn't want to be

Nick Kyrgios anymore. I've got to change this. And then once I let go of all that, I had

the best year of my career just being Nick Kyrgios.

Where would Nick Kyrgios like to close off his tennis career?

I think in like the south.

Don't know.

Don't know. Don't stop me. Don't stop me at the rubber does.

Nick Kyrgios, welcome to Straight Talk, mate.

How are you?

Very good. It's been tough getting you here. You are so busy, man, like doing stuff all the time.

People just think you play tennis.

Yes.

But you do a million things other than tennis.

Correct.

And you're sort of building, you're building for the future. And I'm going to talk about that. I

want to park that for a second though.

Yeah.

I can't help but talk about your heritage, mate. We sort of share similar heritages in some respects.

Yeah.

Tell me about your heritage. Load it up.

Well, yeah, I'll start with what you said earlier. Yeah, tennis is probably the easiest

thing I do out of everything else. You know, going on court for a couple of hours and then

coming home and getting a massage is the easiest part of my life. But everything else has been

good. But yeah, my heritage, obviously my dad's from Greece, came by boat in 1965.

So he was seven years old. And then my mom was born in Malaysia. And then she traveled to

Australia as well. And they both met in Canberra. Such a strange kind of story. So I'm a bit of a

fan of that.

Yeah.

Kind of story. So I'm a bit of a mixed race. And yeah, just been born and raised in Canberra

and now found my way to Sydney with a full Greek missus. And she's from Sydney. So yeah,

man, just grew up in a mixed race house and heavily influenced Greek though. Like, you

know, my family was all, most of my Greek family was in Canberra. So you went to your

yard's place every Monday for food, you know, after training. So yeah, it's something I

hold pretty dearly. And playing tennis around the world, you know, it's a big part of my

life. You know, the Greek fans are pretty, they're pretty crazy. I'm not going to lie.

They're pretty hectic.

They are hectic. And, and, you know, winning the Australian Open. And they've traveled

around the world. Like no matter where I play, the Greek heritage is always strong. And they

want me to, you definitely know when there's Greeks in the stadium, let me tell you.

Yeah. Well, that's pretty cool. I guess it's pretty interesting when you sort of come from

mixed parentage. So your mum being Malaysian and your dad being Greek. It's an interesting

thing that I've observed with other people, including myself, that seems to be that you

take the, most of the culture, you take the Greek culture, you take the Greek culture,

from the, the, from that part of your family that has the most momentum, like the biggest

number of people or whatever the case may be, may be aware of the, and you just mentioned

you, yeah, yeah. If you have a grandma there, which is what yeah, yeah means for those people

who don't know what yeah, yeah means. But you tend to take that one. So you could just

explain to me, because I love hearing these stories. Explain to me what, what does, what

does it mean to you? What did it mean to you when you and your family go to your grandmother's

house, your house on a Monday night for a feed?

I mean, that you just said that like everyone else does it, but no one else does that. Not

many people do it.

Yeah. So I guess the reason, I guess we kind of took more of our Greek side of the family

is because most of my mum's relatives and family is still in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

So we don't see them as often, but yeah, so my, we were just going to my Yaya's house,

grandma in Australian or Papu's house every Monday, they live literally 10 minutes away.

That just became a routine. We did, you know, Christmases at our house with the lamb on

the spirit, like exactly how, you know, most Greeks, if they're watching this would, would,

would have experienced it, but they passed away not so long ago. And you know, just dating

Costain, my girlfriend now she's full Greek and going to her Yaya's place. Like Greeks

understand how special it is to, to do those things. And for me, it's just nothing more

humbling than like, you know, being on center court of Wimbledon, you know, doing all these

amazing things, traveling around the world, meeting all these people within like, I wouldn't

trade going to my girlfriend's Yaya's place or, you know, having one more time at my Yaya's

house just to eat the home cooked Greek food. Like there's nothing better than that in my,

in my opinion.

So I just feel like, and you know, my, my, my oldest brother, Christos, he's just had

a son, George and a little girl, Sophia. So the names, everything, you know, there's about

five Nicks and five Georges in our family who can't go to a barbecue or anything without,

you know, naming, pointing at someone who you're talking to. So yeah, I'm really proud

of my Greek, my Greek heritage.

And what's your dad's first name?

George.

George. So generally speaking, that means if you have a child in the traditional sense,

you will call

the firstborn.

George, if it's a boy, if it's a girl, it could be George. Yeah. But because in my family,

my grandfather's name was Panagiotis, Peter. And I got like 36 cousins. I think I got like

eight cousins, male cousins are called Peter. And when we refer to Peter, we say Peter,

little Peter, middle Peter, big Peter.

Moustache Peter.

Moustache Peter. So that's, that's cool that the Greek heritage is sort of, sort of soaked

itself into your, your system, your life. And of course you've got Christine, who in her

own right is a very successful.

Yeah.

Social media person. And we'll talk about Christine in a moment. But I've seen photographs

of you. You look like you're really close to your mum.

Yeah. No, I am. I'm really close to my mum. I guess, I mean, look, in a way, Australia

hasn't always embraced me, you know, as, as an athlete and, and, you know, I've gone through

ups and downs with, with the, with the media and the public eye and the opinion. And it's,

it's, I guess the only people at the end of the day that have always had my back are my

mum and my dad. And I guess the Greeks, I feel extreme support from them, no matter who they

are.

Yeah.

No matter if I lose, no matter if I win, if I go out there and compete, the Greeks

always have embraced that side of things. So no matter if I've hated Australia in a

way that like that, how they've treated me, I can always count on my mum and the Greek

side to always be there and make me feel like, oh, Nick, you've actually, you're actually

doing all right. Like you're not playing that bad. You're one of the best players in the

world. Like, oh, thanks. Like it makes me feel good. So yeah, my mum's always been there

and just a sacrifice. Like we, I grew up, we grew up in government housing in, in Canberra

and

What does that mean? Like a social housing?

Yeah. Yeah. And then, and we had not much, not much, um,

not much money. So we couldn't travel. We were always driving to places like eight,

nine hour journeys to make tournaments in like Orange and Maduro, all these country

towns in Australia. And my mum, she just sacrificed everything and put all the eggs in my basket

and, and just basically wheeled me over the line to, to become a tennis player.

That's interesting. So as a kid living in Canberra, at what point did you know that

tennis is your thing? I mean, cause you're, you're a big tall dude. So I would have thought

other things might've interested you like, um, AFL, basketball, et cetera. I mean, I've

seen you on the basketball court. You love your basketball.

Yeah. Yeah. Well I play, I play basketball growing up. Um, but basketball was my first

ever love. And I remember I used to shoot at the, you know, my basketball hoop outside

my house and my dad at four, I was 14. I remember I was shooting hoops. My dad came outside

and he's like, look, we're going to stop playing basketball and we're just going to continue

to play tennis. And to that day, like literally broke my heart. Cause I was like, all I used

to do was watch basketball videos, dress like a basketball player, watch it. And he's just

like, we're cutting it now. We're not going to do it. We're just going to put, try and

make it in tennis. Cause tennis, one of our biggest sports in Australia. And at that time,

basketball wasn't so big here. And that was it. They basically just said, look, we're

going to do it. And I never took myself seriously. I mean, to this day, I don't, I'm quite a

jokester. I take the piss all the time. Like I'm always having a drink. Like I don't actually

think I know what, you know, what I'm capable of doing still in a way. And I love, I love

that. I love the fact that I'm like, I need people to say like, Oh, maybe you shouldn't

do that. Like you're him. And I think it's laughable sometimes. Like when people say

like, Oh, you're Nick Kyrgios. Like, I don't think I carry that much weight. I don't think

weight. But yeah, like I never took my career seriously. I mean, maybe when I was about

20, I noticed that, Oh, maybe I should start, you know, putting in every day. And I get

like, I was 18. I won my first professional tournament. I was 17. And I saw the list of

people that had done at that age. It was like Federer, Dimitrov, right? Like all, some of

the greatest of all time. And I was like, Nick Kyrgios' name doesn't belong on that

list, but it's there. And then I guess I kind of started taking it seriously.

Yeah. Do you ever, do you ever get that feeling like you're a kid from Canberra, good immigrant

parents? Um, I don't deserve to be like, you know, sometimes I call it imposter syndrome

syndrome, but like, did you ever feel that?

Big time. I still feel that to this day. I feel like, you know, even sitting here talking

to someone as successful as you and having my own show now and interviewing people like

Gordon Ramsey, Mike Tyson, like why are these people sitting next to me answering questions

from Nick Kyrgios from Canberra? It's wild. Um, so I do have to kind of snap my fingers

and be like, this is surreal. And, and I say that, but people say like,

you've worked hard to be in that position. And I, and I have, but at the same time, it's

like, I think what I'm doing isn't, isn't normal. I think what you're doing is not normal. I

feel like we do deserve to have a little bit of praise because it's, it's pretty cool at

the end of the day, what we're doing. Well, I'm lucky to be honest, to sit down

and in this job to interview people like you. And, you know, I've had all sorts of, you

know, mad interviews with people. And, uh, the only thing I sometimes I just sort of

scratch myself and say, uh, why am I a kid from Punchbowl? You know, uh, immigrant parents,

how's it all work? Well, how, how, why is it? I'm so lucky. I don't feel like I'm an

imposter, but like it took, I'm much older than yourself. I've been able to deal with

it when I, if I was being your age, I don't know if I would've been able to deal with

it. I probably would have been, um, skylarking, fucking around, um, doing all sorts of mad

shit. Uh, get myself into trouble. Yeah. It sounds like Nick Kyrgios. Yeah. I mean,

when you're younger, I'm talking about, yeah. I mean, I think the thing about me, like I'm

definitely loose, but I'm not as crazy as I think people on the court. I'm, I'm not

I'm definitely a different person. Like I'm a psychopath on the court, obsessive and super

competitive. And just the obsession to win for me when I'm on between those lines is

not normal. And I think it's not healthy at times, but off the court, I'm a completely

different person. Everyone that knows me and as a close friend and family, you know, I'm

extremely caring, quite calm. Um, just want to have a good time and I don't take myself

too seriously. So the media is almost painted this villain and bad boy. It's like, this

guy's fucking loose as unit. Well, don't get me wrong. I can party the house down better

than most.

To be fair, I'm not going to lie, but like, I'm very, I wasn't getting into, I'm not getting

into crazy things and I'm not doing illegal things and create, like, I'm not, I might

throw a racket here or there, but I'm not a psycho.

What would you say your relationship, maybe not so much now, but what has it been like

and how did it affect you in relation to the media?

Oh, it's been hard. I think getting thrown into the spotlight at 17 years old and that

was, I was still in school.

I was like a kid with,

my friends playing video games, living in Canberra and I got thrown into the spotlight

and I just wasn't ready for it. And I think what I wasn't ready for was I was always ready

to be myself, but I wasn't ready to like have so many expectations and everyone else's opinion

of how I should be. And I didn't understand like social media for me has been, it's been

a rollercoaster because to wake up, like to this day, I can go on my social medias, Instagrams,

Twitter, all this, and, and, and just say negative comments about myself, my partner,

my family, everything.

And that's, I think to,

a normal person, that's not normal. Like we're not supposed to actually absorb so many

negative comments from the get-go. And it really affected me when I was younger. I really

took it personally. And to the point where I was self-harming, was having suicidal thoughts,

like I couldn't bear to go outside. Like I hate, I was waking up at 3 PM dark room in

Shanghai before I was playing professional tournaments. Like it really affected me to

the point where I just didn't want to be Nick Kyrgios anymore.

And then, yeah, I kind of just learned to use it. I understand what social media is there

for now,

but when I was a kid, I had no idea. Like now I know I use it as a business thing. You

know, I, I follow people that I have extreme interest in, like the Souths.

Don't, no, don't stop me. Don't stop me at the rubberdose.

But just like now I understand what social media is. And there's so many idiots out there

that comment on things and just leave negative comments. And I just, it ultimately comes

down to, I don't think people understand what words can actually do to someone. Like it

just piles up and it's subconsciously sits there. And for me at a young age, I, it really

ate me up. I was like, wow, what if these people are right?

But now I think, I think people like us have extreme amount of power on our fingertips.

Like we could, you and I could write a tweet right now and be on fucking night news tonight.

That's like a dangerous amount of power to give to someone. But earlier on it was, it

was hard for me to kind of understand how this whole thing works.

So what would you say to a younger Nick Kyrgios, like someone like who might be coming through

now, in, doesn't matter what the sport is, and about to get, be sort of pushed into the

same environments you've pushed in. What would you say to him in relation to the social media?

Because they've got to have social media.

Yes.

To, to maintain their levity.

Correct.

Yeah. And also just.

What would you say to them though? Like don't read it or get a manager or get someone else

to read it and respond or what would you say?

I just think, yeah, this, I don't think anyone's kind of, it's hard to say because social media

is such a, it's not a natural thing. Like it's just the, the way people get paid these

days for just, you know, doing like getting dressed in front of the camera or doing these

influences things. It's, it's, it's just wild to me. Like something like, someone like me

it's like, I've worked on my craft since I was five years old. Like I played tennis at

seven and it's been every day since then. So I'm like mastered a craft my entire life

and that's why I get paid and that's why I'm able to do these things. Where now it's like

people don't really have to have any sort of, you know, hard acquired skills or anything.

They just, you know, have a bit of a social media, whatever, but it is, but I don't know.

I think I'd tell myself a big part of me saying, don't even bother playing because it's just

mentally.

It's been quite taxing and stressful. And I think on my family, the stress, I mean,

look on the flip side, it's been a mate. The things I can do for my family now, obviously

have been amazing, but the stress it's caused as well as it's not for everyone. I don't

think everyone's ready and geared up for a lifestyle like this because you've got no,

no privacy. And that's a big one. I would love to go get dinner with my girlfriend once

in a while in public without being bothered, you know, and that's, that's just one thing,

but yeah, I don't know. I don't have the answer.

Yeah.

And when you, and when you and Kostin go out for dinner, for example, let's say you're

in Canberra or for when it doesn't matter where it is, does it, people actually come up and

say, well, can I have a photo, can I get an autograph?

All the time.

Yep. And then how do you deal with it? Like, do you, do you feel as though sometimes you

feel like saying, it sort of happened to me last night, I had to do a talk and people,

and then I thought, nah, I made money out of these people. I really got to stand there.

There's a line of people who want to get a photograph. And I did it. I thought, oh fuck

it. I wanted to go home, mate. I just, it was 9.30 and I was tired.

Yeah.

So maybe a couple of years ago I would have said, nah, fuck off. I'm not doing it. How

do you deal with it?

Um, I, I mean, look in Sydney, I'm probably stopping a hundred to 200 times a day. So

that's why I love Canberra. Cause I go there and they see me grow up and it's kind of like

a country town vibe.

They know who you are.

Exactly.

Sort of hanging out.

But anywhere in Australia and, and around the world, it's, it's a constant thing that

I don't have a problem with it. If they ask respectfully, I don't mind at all. It's more

so when I'm in the middle of dinner with my family and someone's just barged in and they're

disrespectful and it's just like, it's like, this is like my off time where I'm trying

to be a normal, normal person. But I do, I do do my best to, to take as many photos as

I can. And I mean, even that, like a surreal, like why do people want photos with us? Like,

do you know what I mean?

With you, I can't imagine. Like, I can imagine why you, but I can't imagine the stress or

the number of people ask you. It must be like literally all the time.

Yeah. It's, it's, it's all the time. And, and they just don't have perspective on what

I could potentially be going through that day.

Like, I remember one day that stands out, like my Yaya was in, like, she was, she passed

away on that day and it was my, I was Costain's birthday. So my Yaya passed away on Costain's

birthday. So I'm organizing everything on Costain's birthday. I get the news that my

Yaya passed away. I'm still training on the court. And in the midst of all that, I've

got like two to 300 people coming for photos that day. And it's like, they don't understand

like the shit storm that I'm going through emotionally, but they just want a photo. It's

like, and then I might be rude to one of them.

Like, oh, fuck off. Like, I don't feel like it now. And then that's a ripple effect. They're

going to tell someone, oh, he's an idiot. And it just, and so it's like, how does someone

like that balance? And that's my life daily.

Do you have a manager who, who walk along and say, look, get in front of you?

Sometimes, but like he lives in Canberra and one of my, one of my closest agents, my day

to day guy, he lives in Canberra. And then my other agent lives in LA. So when I'm just

alone in Sydney, it's like, yeah, they're not there. I'm going to try. They can't, can't

be with me all the time. So my life is very stressful sometimes. And I come home and it's

sometimes Costine doesn't really understand like why I'm in a shit mood. And I'm like,

it's just hard sometimes to be this, I guess this avatar that's been built up over time.

So do you, do you feel as though that sometimes that you're like an avatar of yourself? In

other words, is there a Nick Kyrgios in public that's different to say the Nick Kyrgios when

he's at home with Costine?

100%. 100%. I think that's the, over time, that's what's been created. The in, the in

public Kyrgios is the one you see on the court and then behind closed doors is completely

different one.

Yeah. So it's, if when, when you're equally, when you're want to meet somebody that's really

famous, like Mike Tyson or your podcast, what's your podcast called?

Good Trouble.

Good Trouble. Right. Good. Nice, nice, nice title. Good Trouble. When you want to get

hold of someone like Tyson or Gary Vee, whoever it might be, you don't have any trouble. You

just bring them up and they'll come on your podcast and then you can go on their podcast

like a lot of times too.

Yep.

Yep. So it sort of works on the flip side too.

It does. Definitely.

It gives you a lot of advantages.

100%.

So give us an example of who you might've interviewed in Good Trouble.

So yeah, Mike Tyson actually reached out, his team reached out to me because his daughter's

a huge tennis fan.

Oh really?

She plays tennis. They moved from Vegas to Florida for her tennis.

Wow.

So they're putting all the eggs in the basket for her. And then when she met me on Mike

Tyson's podcast, her hand was shaking meeting me and I was like, you know who your dad is,

right?

Yeah.

For me, like why is Mike Tyson's daughter so nervous to meet me? And his whole family

was there. And then he came on my podcast, Good Trouble. And it was, it was definitely

one of the more surreal moments in my career. It was like, wow, like I've achieved some

amazing things in tennis, but now to be able to do something afterwards with these people

was special. And Gordon Ramsey, like someone like that, like you think about food, you

think about him. And I've been a fan of his for ages. I've watched all of his episodes

on YouTube. And then he's just on, like he's my first episode of Good Trouble. Like that's

my first guest.

And yeah, just constantly staying in touch with these people. It's surreal. Jay Shetty,

like I'm, I've been in my bed, you know, naked after training, watching these people on my

Instagram reels and now I'm interviewing them. That's not normal. So yeah, I don't know.

It's, it's definitely on the flip side, but it's just comes down to hard work, I guess,

you know? And I'm also not that Nick Kyrgios on the court. Like, don't forget a tennis

match is five, four, five hours sometimes. And the little snippet that the news will

show is like 20 seconds of me smashing a racket.

Yeah.

95% of the match, I'm actually quiet, composed gentleman. And then for the small snippet,

it's like, that guy's a psychopath.

Yeah. Well, but I don't think there's anything wrong with being a psychopath in some, some

things.

No, definitely not.

Cause sometimes it works.

Yeah.

Like in business, I'm probably a bit of a psychopath. Like, and I act, but if you acknowledge

it and accept it, then, and you don't take it outside of that into your private life,

to your family or your, it's okay.

Definitely.

It's okay. So you being a psychopath in the way you play, compared to say, you know, I'm

a psychopath.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like some, you know, Federer

might also be one just in a different way.

He was a loose unit earlier in his career. And then I think he lost, he lost his coach

and that kind of changed him a bit. And then he obviously became who we see today, which

is like not attainable. And I think people, when they say like, I think that's why my

fan base is quite big. Cause they look at Federer, they're like, I can't be like him.

He's like perfect. And they're like, I get curious. He looks more like attainable.

Yeah, more normal.

Yeah. Let's be like him.

By the way, that is, but that's the truth though. Like you are more like him when you

more normal and uh and I think like especially in this day and age authenticity is so important

big time so you're you you come across you might upset a few people you come across honest yeah

because I'm being who I am and and and is that the only way that Nick Kyrgios can be

now it is for sure I was trying to be someone else for basically first half of my career it

was like Nick Kyrgios supposed to win grand slams Nick Kyrgios supposed to do this and achieve all

this but that wasn't who what I wanted to do in the sport I just wanted to do it my way

and then once I let go of all that it was like I had the best year of my career I nearly won a

grand slam like it was I was nearly achieving these things they wanted but I was doing it my

way I was just had a small team my girlfriend my physio my agent traveling around the world

doing just being Nick Kyrgios like throwing a racket here or there but competing hard

and just bringing it was like I brought Canberra with me like and my Greek hair just all the things

that were important to me brought it along for the ride and just did it my way and just didn't

care about anyone else's opinion so

I'll come back to your tennis your your resumption of tennis in a moment yeah um I do want to go back

to the podcast so how many how many episodes you've done the podcast so I've done six at the

moment done six six episodes where you record it uh in LA in LA studios in LA so you obviously

spend a lot of time in the states all the time yeah so do you have a place or a place to stay

there or how does that work so I have my residence is in the Bahamas I have a place in the Bahamas

and I've had that now for about eight years I'd say um so that's like kind of my base if I am

you know Australian tennis player we spend about eight months overseas playing all year round um so

maybe at that halfway point I'd do a week or two weeks in Bahamas training and then

into the US swing so yeah that's it's been you can't not have a base overseas if you're an

Australian tennis player you look at some of the other ones like Alex Demon are the more successful

Australian tennis players they usually have a base overseas um so yeah I mean that's that's where I

so do you feel as though you don't have you don't have roots

stuck stuck somewhere definitely that's and this is why me having this injury like I had

wrist surgery about seven months ago and I'm back on court now but it's actually been the biggest

bonus for me because financially I've actually been able to set things up off the court with

my platform that have you know benefited me amazingly and also just catching up with my

family and friends like I've been traveling for the past 11 years six to seven months away from my

my home my family and I've felt so out of routine

and my head's been everywhere and now it's like I have a nice diligent routine I feel settled

and I'm able to do things with purpose and now when I'm coming back it's like all right I'm ready to

go back again where man the tennis life is hard from Australia like week in week out different

place different country different hotels just living out of a suitcase it's it's pretty it's

pretty brutal and because some people think it's glamorous no it's troubling and so maybe just give

us a bit of an example because I mean obviously you're gonna stay in a nice hotel but everyone's

gonna say well yeah but you stay in a nice hotel they've got a gym and they've got a bar and

but at the end of the day it doesn't really mean anything I mean you're you're you're sleeping in a

bed different bed every every period every week whatever it is explain that process like what

it's like so well tennis basically you you lose pretty much every week like unless you're one of

the greatest of all time in the sport you're winning every week but every week you're you

might win a tournament here or there but you're losing every week so you don't know when to book

your flights so you don't know when to book hotels you don't know when you're going to be leaving

you don't want to be arriving and my days so far was the land in let's say in the United States

Houston so I would land I'd go to the tennis courts train for a couple hours do gym get

treatment shower dinner sleep that's my day for the whole week it's not like going out to amazing

restaurants going to the gym going in the jacuzzi it's like diligently working and then if I lose

to the next to the next could be the next country next state and then we just do that again and

again and again and again and again for seven months in a row how do you keep yourself mentally

well that's ready for the next let's say you lose

in Houston you're going to the next place which would be where it is yeah how do you keep yourself

up well that's just you just have to like mentally just prepare yourself that I'm going to be home for

this amount of time away from home this amount of time and you sort of bite it into the process

like sometimes I want to I won Washington like uh last year 2022 sorry and I was in Montreal the

night after I'd won the final playing first round of Montreal like it's like you win a week it's

next week next week and it's like so it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like it's like

we did I think me and Coste in the first year we traveled we went to five countries in a month and

a half like it was just like no routine different food different time zones play it's it's a it's a

shit show and do you build they do build mates in other places or are you just pretty much waiting

to get back or to catch up yeah I've I've definitely built some mates in around the

world and other tennis players as well like I've pretty close to some of them but it's just hard

to find any sort of routine and I think that's why Djokovic for me is arguably the best athlete

of all time because he's just his adaptability is like he'll be in Asia one week then Europe

then the states then Australia and it's like the guy's playing different time zones different

different tennis balls different food different air and he's just continually beating everyone

like what do you think he is that what what do you reckon is about him that just makes him so

special oh I hard to say I don't know like I don't have the answers because he grew up in

Serbia like it might be a tough environment or big time or yeah he was I think he was growing

up in Serbia when I mean there were bombs dropping basically I've spoken to him about it and that's

what I mean like people think that their upbringing was hard which which they are but he went through

something you know that was I wouldn't even know how to react if I was going through something like

that so he's definitely come from a upbringing that's extremely hard and he's just mentally so

resilient like that year when we kicked him out of the country like he's dealt with everything he

came back and and threw it in our face yeah basically so he um he's a mental animal really so

if is is Nick curious

um anti-authoritarian a little bit like in other words I'm I'm not going to tell the line just for

the sake of time line um just because you tell me I've got to do something um I'm going to have my

own opinion on it is it is and that to me is anti-authority yeah and by the way I'm not making

a judgment on it yeah um is that is that the sort of person you you clearly were like that but are

you is that part of your DNA I think I'm I just like to challenge and and I'm very curious and

I like to ask questions like that was even when I was in the academy when I was 12 I got kicked out

from me um just because I was always challenging coaches I was like why am I doing this like well

like I need reasoning as to why you set these like boundaries for me and what's the benefit like I'm

always questioning and wanting to find the real route as to why I'm doing things and I guess when

I don't agree with something I'm just going to say I just don't think I agree with that here's what I

think I think that's normal and it's healthy like if everyone just kind of rocks up to a place and

it's like okay I'm going to follow these rules but they don't you know not getting the best out

of themselves it's like well then you should do something else

like it's as simple as that and I think I don't just rock up and like I'm going to rebel for no

reason you're not rebellious yes but you ask a question yeah definitely I think and that's hell

I think people these days they lack they lack that they like this generation coming up they

lack asking questions they just follow their rule followers they think what they're being told is the

right thing like they don't ask questions so they just they're all the same like I feel like I walk

outside I just say this everyone's the same like it's it's weird I feel super uncomfortable it's

funny because like uh one of your

close associates Matt who's just sitting over here yeah um before we started the podcast he said he

was going to go out and um hopefully the parking office is not listening to this but he's going to

go outside and uh put the money in the parking meter yeah and both of us said don't worry

about it like you're not going to get booked um and and that's not because you know we can I hate

paying parking flights it doesn't matter I can afford or not it shoots me yeah if it's 50 bucks

it shoots me because I'm Greek you know I don't want to I don't want to pay no but equally I'm

thinking to myself that it's a rule-based uh mindset and I I and I say it should be okay

yeah it's funny how Matt immediately thought he should do it yeah and and your response was no

don't be about be okay yeah and I know it's not because you don't care about the money yeah it's

not about it's just like uh yeah you should be okay yeah you should be okay and it's and they're

the sorts of people those sort of that sort of entrepreneurial flair is a similar sort of flair

I think to what it takes to be a great sports person because you've got to take risks definitely

on the court 100 risks in your training yep uh risks in terms of your life generally because

you know like you don't see anybody and you and costing are just basically traveling the world

and never really get to talk to anybody else which is which is why I want to come back to costing

because it must be pretty hard to do that yep and stay in a stable relationship yes there's

got to be a particular type of personality yeah two personalities that work together yes in those

that sort of environment that's why I want to come back to cost in a minute but how important

as part of your character is risk-taking and when is it turned around and bite you on the arse

well

risk-taking like in the tennis sense when I was training with in Melbourne when we were

all training together the coaches put a thing on the whiteboard right and they were saying

that risk-taking was the same for everyone where it was like my game style is like aggressive it's

like it's it's risk-taking but the more risk I take the higher percentage I have to win the

match so is it really risk-taking it's like the more aggressive a player and the more chances I

take that just only increases my chance to win and that's just how I've been in my life it's like the

more enthusiastic I've been the more like I push someone or the more I just just I don't know not

necessarily risk-take but just the more I get involved in something the the more the better

off I've actually come out in anything in my life tennis it's like I've only known to be

like flamboyant or flare and play the trick shots and because that's just my personality coming out

so risk-taking for me has been I like I just I live and die by the sword I'll put it out there

and if I come up short it's like with at least it was like my mentality is

playing Nadal, Federer or Djokovic, any of these guys,

if I went out there and played aggressive under pressure

and kept it on my racket, I could sleep better at night.

It's like if I lose, at least it was on my terms and not on their terms

and that's just how I live my life basically.

So therefore when you take risks, it sort of gives you a reward

and risk and reward are related obviously.

Yeah.

Because when I watch you play tennis,

it looks like one of the ways you defend against someone like Djokovic

and those types of players who are very purposeful

and strict in their program.

It's their program of ties sort of the way they play.

It looks like to me that you're – because you're a big unit

and it looks like to me that you're using your presence

to sort of like overwhelm.

Like, fuck, here he comes.

Oh, my God, what is he going to do next?

That's a good strategy because that's always worth you obviously.

Yes.

Because you've always been that person your whole life.

Correct.

I'll bet you when you're down in Melbourne at the institute there,

I'll be there.

I haven't changed.

You were bigger than everybody else, taller.

Not more athletically gifted.

But it's not a bad – well, for your size probably.

Yeah, I was pretty overweight.

Where?

Yeah, I was an overweight kid.

So, okay.

But I was definitely bigger than everyone.

But bigger.

Yes.

And that is an overwhelming thing.

It is, yeah.

And here comes this guy full of cockiness and he's coming at the net.

What the fuck is he going to do?

Yeah, I've always tried to keep – I mean,

that's my reputation on tour is unpredictable.

It's like no one has any idea.

Like the scouting reports just would just be questionable.

Question marks just like we don't know what's coming.

Just get like gear up and it could be a four hours mental

and physical rollercoaster.

And that's, I think, against Federer and Nadal and Djokovic and Andy,

all these guys that are just some of the greatest of all time,

like I'm not going to beat them playing the general sport.

Like in my mind, I'm trying to take them back to the concrete courts

with cracks in it in Canberra.

That's my mentality is to drag them down to that arena where they feel like shit.

I don't feel like I'm on centre court at Wimbledon anymore.

Like I'm in –

Where am I?

I feel uncomfortable.

Like me – it could be me just like looking at them on change events

and just saying like, hey, how do you feel?

You feel nervous?

Like I actually say these things to people on court.

They're just like, why is this guy talking to me on the change events?

Like we shouldn't be doing that.

I try and just make it as unprofessional as possible.

And unpredictable.

And then it's worked majority of the time.

Anyone that says like, oh, he hasn't reached his potential,

it's like, dude, I've nearly won the most immortal event

that tennis has ever given to us.

Like – and I'd lost it.

I'm the best player of all time.

Wimbledon.

Like I lost the Novak in a tight force.

Like I nearly did it.

Like I can't – I'm only human, you know.

It's funny, you know, that when you say that because one of the elements

of being this unpredictable person is theatre.

And theatre plays an important role in this stuff.

Yep.

Sometimes mucking up a bit and fucking around.

Not in the set but like not when you're playing but just outside the set.

Yep.

Sort of adds to the theatre and also –

Yep.

Adds to the unpredictability of this guy called Nick Kyrgios.

Especially for someone like Andy Murray like who's really straight.

Yeah, clean cut.

Yeah, down the middle like, you know, sits at the back of the court

and hits from the baseline all the time.

Someone like Ben Englishman too, coming up against this Greek kid

with a Malaysian mum.

What is he, 6'5"?

Yeah, about that, yeah.

Yeah, 6'5", like a giant and has a massive reputation

like on and off the court.

Yep.

Like you use that to your advantage.

Definitely.

So there's quite a bit of intellect going into this.

100%.

Quite a bit of strategy.

100%.

Is it Nick Kyrgios who works out the strategy or do you sort

of do it with a team of dudes?

No, no.

My team has now realised it and I've had a bunch of players,

like teammates throughout my whole career and they realise

that I'm just who I am and I haven't had a coach now

for like six years and they just know that whatever they see

on court is just what my mind's been cooking up.

I don't even know what's going on in there half the time

when I'm on court.

Like I'm asking people in the crowd where to serve.

Like I was going to the pub with the media and journalists

the night before I played Nadal.

I don't know.

I don't know what goes inside my head sometimes when I'm on court

and it's all a show to me.

Like entertainment and sport is one.

So deep down I just want to give that crowd an insane show.

It doesn't have to be good or bad.

I just want them to go home and say like,

what the fuck did we just watch?

How good.

Yeah.

And to me people are like, oh, that's not reaching full potential

but I don't care about that.

Like I care about giving like people like just something

to make them feel a certain way.

Because I hate going to a sports, like any sort of sporting game

and just like sitting there and like nothing's happening.

Like I'm not saying I want someone to get injured or something

but I want some, like I want some sort of like adrenaline rush

and hopefully I give that to people when I'm on court.

Because you just said something really important.

It's a show.

It is.

It's a show.

And, you know, when you look at your mates at Volk, Volkanovski.

I mean.

That's a coliseum.

What he does is like the new age coliseum.

It's like you go till you basically die.

Yeah.

Like that's not a sport.

That's a fucking show.

That's what I mean.

That's a show.

Like.

Like it's been here since the beginning of time.

That's what sport is.

And given that you sort of tap into that vibe.

Yeah.

When do you work out, oh shit, I've just got to be careful

I don't become Nick Kyrgios the show.

I mean was there a point in your life where you thought, hang on,

I've got to be careful I don't live that out.

Yes.

In other words, I don't identify with that guy.

I'm actually, I'm Nick Kyrgios.

Yeah.

The partner of Kostin, the son of mum and dad, brother, sister,

all that.

All that stuff, you know what I mean?

Godfather, et cetera.

Yeah.

At what point in your life did you realise or did you ever get

to a crisis where you thought, shit, I'm becoming the dude?

Yeah.

I think that's when I hit my darkest point where it was like

I was partying till 4 or 5am.

Like I'd go to nightclubs and cloak my tennis bag.

Like I would go from the court and enter the club from the centre,

cloak my tennis bag and then like just go to the courts the next day

from the club.

Like it was to the point where the rock star or the Nick Kyrgios

was like it was never, I couldn't separate the two.

Like I remember playing a match, winning, like destroying this guy

and making him feel real shit on the court, going to locker room,

dressing up in my like going out gear and everyone was like,

dude, where are you going?

I'm like, I'm just going to the club.

Like straight from the tennis courts and the locker room knew

that this behaviour was going on and it was just like they would see me

rocking the next day in the same clothes and it was like I'd play

like Rafa and put on an absolute show.

I might not win but it would be like the most entertaining thing

and it was like I kept doing that for a couple of years and it just,

I burnt out.

Like I just couldn't do it anymore to the point where it was self-harm.

It was actually detrimental to my health, my family, my friends,

my relationship with my friends, just everyone.

And then I was like I have to be able to separate.

I can be that Nick Kyrgios for like maybe 10% of the time and the rest

I have to like really try and drown him when I'm off the court basically.

Was there someone in your life who'd tap you on the shoulder and say,

mate, come on?

Yeah, my dad because my dad never cries, like super strong emotional

like tolerance.

My dad like always.

He's the one in the family that's always just, I mean he still works

these days, seven years old, he still paints, like he just has the same routine,

takes the dogs for a 13K walk every morning, just super diligent,

doesn't want to pay overpriced for a tomato to this day.

Like you know what I mean?

I'm the same.

Exactly.

So he was basically the one, I woke up one day at Wynwood

and I got home at like 10am and he was crying on the side of the bed saying

like you can't keep doing this, like you're going to get to a point

where it's this, you're just going to, I don't know what's going to happen.

And then I was like, I've never seen my dad cry before.

And that was the one time I was like, okay, I've got to change this

because obviously this is something that my family is super concerned about

and that was it.

That was kind of the wake-up call for me.

And then at what point then did you meet Costain?

Was she in your life at that point?

No.

I met Costain in, we've been together for two years.

Wow.

We've been together for almost two and a half years now.

So I kind of met her when I was better emotionally.

But I had gone through a lot of, you know, bad relationships prior to that.

So I knew that when Cosi came in, I told her, I was like, look,

this is who you're dating.

Like I've come with a lot of baggage and your life's going to change dramatically.

Like what you know now to what was going to happen.

It's not for everyone.

Like you won't, you'll barely see your family.

Like there's a lot of pros.

Like you'll have your, you'll probably gain a bunch of say Instagram followers

and you'll have your own businesses now and you'll earn your money.

But like this lifestyle, it's, it's full on.

And she was like, yeah, okay.

Great.

And then she didn't really actually understand.

Like she's on the morning show.

She's doing crazy things.

It's like, you're now your own entity of a person with a brand.

And, um, but she's been so amazing for me.

And I guess what I needed in a partner was just my life is such a shit storm all the time.

But when I come home, if I just have a nice, like just a nice peaceful home

and she's Greek and now she can, she can cook.

And it's just, it feels like peace.

Like it's my little slice of peace that I know that I can come back to.

Obviously when I go out with the boys, she's still a nutcase.

Like she's Greek.

She's, she, she, where are you?

Yeah.

Where are you?

I've got to give her my location, but I love her for that.

Like she, she's, she's crazy, but like, I love that side of her as well.

But my life's just such a shit storm all the time.

I need that.

I need her in my life to give me that.

She just makes it all make sense a little bit.

At what point in your life did you realize that there's two parts to that shit storm bit?

My life's a shit storm, but that's a life I can dip in and dip out of.

Yep.

Or my life's a shit storm and I'm part of the shit storm.

Yeah.

The guy creates it.

I'm definitely, yeah.

Where I go, trouble usually follows or not trouble, but just chaos.

And I guess, I don't know if I can ever, I hope one day when I don't, when I stop playing

and when I calm down and there's some other nut case or, you know, that's taken my spot.

I mean, I think that would be where I can maybe just chill out and, and go out.

But now it's, I don't know.

I guess I try and have good people around me.

Like my friends are all, you know, great guys that I have a lot of time for and they know

what, what I'm like.

And I don't hang around with people I don't love genuinely.

So I don't know when it will end, to be honest, because it is a shit show.

My life is, it's crazy.

Let's talk about your injuries.

You had the knee operation and you got, you had wrist operated on.

You haven't played for a year and a half.

A year and a half, yeah.

Yeah.

So how are you going now in terms of recovery?

So yeah, I had two, two, two knee operations.

My knee's completely fine now though.

So they're just clean outs, were they?

I had a meniscus tear initially and then I had a pretty serious meniscus, another meniscal

tear.

So they had to like basically.

Shave half my meniscus off and stitch the other part to my bone, but that's fine now.

Like this is fully, fully no pain at all.

And then I had wrist surgery seven months ago.

Basically just, I fell over about 11 years ago and I tore one ligament and the surgeon

was like, you could get the surgery now, or you can just let it ride and see how far it

gets you.

And then basically 11 years, we fast forward 11 years and I've needed to get the surgery.

So yeah, it's been, it's been hard because I had the best year of my life, you know,

I had the third best season on planet in 2022, you know, it was Rafa and Djokovic, then

me, like that was how good I was playing.

So it required a lot of work.

And I think I look back on my career and I look back at the partying and everything and

all of that, and then playing at a high level, it's almost burning the wick at both ends.

And my body was just like, look, we had a great year, but now we have to kind of put

the pieces back together.

So that's how I look at it.

And I'm just embracing it.

Like I love, loved.

I'm just putting in the work and rehabbing and, you know, I've had my eyes set.

Hopefully this year I'll come back.

24?

Yeah.

Towards the end of the year, I definitely want to be playing.

And if not Australian Open towards the start of next year, but like, I'm really just, I'm

an athlete.

Everyone gets injured.

I think at some stage, and I think it's how you kind of look at it.

For me, it's been an opportunity, you know, I wouldn't be able to sit here and talk with

you if I, if none of this happened either, you know, I'd be overseas playing.

So everything's just take it day by day and it's a bonus really.

So what do they have to do?

What do they have to do with, with the tendons or the ligaments?

Do they have to re-sew them or?

Yeah.

They just put, they had like kind of put a couple holes in and just like put it like

a piece of, I don't know, like.

It's a polymer.

It's like a plastic.

Yeah.

And they just like, it's just tightened up my wrist.

They weave it in.

Yeah.

And that's, that's it.

Basically now I can move it now.

Like it was to the point where I couldn't put salt on my food.

Like that's how much pain I was having.

It wasn't even about tennis.

Like everyday life was, was a task.

But now it's, it's, it's really good.

And have you changed your, uh, like your health regime as a result?

So, you know, part of the rehab is not just exercising and all that sort of stuff, but

it's about food and sleep and not using your hand like, you know, like obviously not hitting

the, hitting the ball as much because there's a lot of impact on that.

Correct.

Um, have you changed your routine, like your personal health regime?

Um, yeah.

One thing in my life and career that's always been quite, uh, consistent is my diet.

I've always had a pretty good diet and my, I don't know if it's a healthy way to think

about it because I was drinking so much in the earlier parts of my career.

I said to myself, I'm going to keep my diet quite clean.

So I'd almost balance the scales out.

I don't know if that's a healthy, um, way.

So like if I was drinking a lot, I'd barely eat or I would just eat like really healthy.

And that's consistently been in my, my diet's been really good.

You know, I was vegan for two years.

Then went pescetarian.

I've tried all the different diets and now I'm a meat eater again, but really clean,

like standard of living.

My mom and dad cook really well and they know that I try and eat really clean.

So yeah, I mean now I've lost five and a half kilos in, in about three and a half weeks.

So I'm back in like heavy training and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and,

and trying to get into playing shape.

So yeah, it's, it's, it's tough, like consciously trying to eat less now because I'm training

and trying to lose a little bit more weight.

And what do you weigh?

What does someone like you weigh?

Um, so my playing weight's about 89 kilos, quite light for someone 6'5".

Wow.

Yeah.

89 kilos?

Yeah.

89, 90 kilos.

And what would you walk around at normally?

Normally, well, tennis is all year round, so I would usually walk around at that.

But during my surgery, I probably put on about four or five kilos and that's just because

I'm not training as much.

But as soon as I start training again, like.

And what does training mean?

I mean, like, I don't even know what it means for a tennis player, this training regime.

Is it weight, running?

What do you do?

Yeah.

So early in the morning, we usually do like a heavy conditioning session.

So a lot of like assault bikes, like VersaClimber, just super, super hard conditioning with a

little bit of resistance.

Then I'll jump on court for about an hour and a half, two hours.

And then I'll do like a lift or a gym session at night and then try and get physio or massage

and then that's it.

So I'm probably doing like three and a half to four hours a day.

Every day?

Yeah, about that.

Yeah.

And do you have a day off?

Sunday's usually a day off.

I don't have a day off because I'm absolutely winced from the Saturday night, but I might

do something light on Sunday.

So when I say do you have a day off, do you have a day off for the drink too?

Yeah, I try not to drink during the week.

Yeah.

And then if I'm, by the end of the week, I am usually like itching, like really itching.

You're tying it for a drink.

Yeah, for a red.

Yeah, yeah.

For a nice.

So what do you do?

Like you have a red wine.

What's your deal?

The thing about me, like my personality, I'm either all in or I'm not at all.

Like if I have a drink, it's like 50 and then like one thing leads to another.

And then like one thing leads to another.

And then I was like, Kig's got to go home.

But yeah, that's it.

I'm just, that's how I am.

Like even with my relationship, I'm either all in, I'm obsessive and I'm doing everything

for the better of us.

Or I'm just like, I'm going fucking crazy.

Do you know what I mean?

Like that's, I do everything with purpose and I'm all in until something like, until

we decide it's not.

Hey, are you sort of always, that type of personality, are you always looking, shit,

something's going to come my way anyway?

Because I know that this is maybe you're thinking like.

I'm, because I'm all in, I know I expect some sort of shit storm to come my way at

some stage, but you always sort of send me expecting some drama to come or you don't

give a fuck.

That's a fucking unreal question.

I kind of always have, with my relationship, I'm in an amazing position.

I'm not expecting anything because I know from my standpoint, I've done everything very

well and, and we've had super good boundaries and relationships.

So no, not with that, but my everyday life, like, yeah, I'm, I just kind of go with the

flow.

Like, I don't care what comes, I know that I can get through anything basically.

I'll deal with it.

Yeah.

I'll deal with it.

Yeah.

I've been through a shit storm.

That's pretty cool though.

Like to be able to say, I'll fucking deal with it.

Yeah, it is.

Because some people walk around shit scared.

Yeah.

And they never get anything done.

They don't really actually ever experience what they really could do because they're

worried about the outcomes.

Correct.

And I think that comes with experience though.

Like when you've had so much struggle or hardship or shit in the media or your business being

aired out in public, like, man, my ex-girlfriend took me to court.

Like all that.

That's been out.

Like when you've gone through so much, I guess, trauma and stuff, you're just not scared of

anything anymore.

You're like, fuck, that's not, people tell you about their problems.

That's not even, you're not even going through anything.

Like man the fuck up and just get through it.

Like, I just feel like I've gone through everything and I'm just couldn't get through anything.

Well, that's called resilience.

Yeah.

Because that's how you build resilience.

Yeah, it is.

Yeah.

Just by experiencing it.

Not too long ago, running a business looked a lot different.

A good location and a solid reputation were enough to keep a customer base happy.

No websites.

No social media.

No SEO.

Just old school networking and persistence, of course.

But times have changed.

In today's digital world, your business needs more than just a great product.

It needs visibility.

That's where Squarespace comes in.

Whether you're just getting started or expanding your brand, it's the all-in-one platform that

makes building and managing your online presence simple.

With Blueprint AI, creating a professional, customized website takes just a few clicks.

Plus, powerful tools like...

Automated client invoicing, online courses, and memberships help you generate revenue

effortlessly.

So you can focus on growing your business instead of juggling logistics.

Head to squarespace.com forward slash mentored for a free trial.

And when you're ready to launch, use offer code mentored, M-E-N-T-O-R-E-D,

to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or a domain.

You were made for going the extra mile for your pet.

And Farrah Pets was made to do the same.

Farrah Pets supplements are vet-created with innovative ingredients that combine

Eastern and Western therapies so your pet can thrive.

After all, you would do anything to help your pet feel their best.

And so would we.

Visit farrahpets.com slash pod to get 20% off today.

That's F-E-R-R-A pets.com slash P-O-D.

Farrah Pets.

We were made for this.

Let's talk about our new fans.

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

What's the deal, Nick?

So...

Explain...

Take me through it because obviously, you know, when I see OnlyFans...

Yeah.

Because I've had some people...

I had Angela White on here.

She sat right there.

Angela White's the number one earning porn star on OnlyFans in the world.

10.5 million US a year.

That's her subscription, right?

And when I heard that you were going to do something with OnlyFans,

I went, what the fuck is he going to do?

Is he going to take his kid off or what?

Yeah.

So most people don't realize that OnlyFans originally was set up for all creators.

Correct.

But the porn stars sort of hijacked it.

Correct.

So take me through it.

So basically, OnlyFans kind of reached out.

They reached out to me and they were like...

They wanted to try and get athletes more involved on it.

And that's exactly what he said.

Originally, it was for all creators.

You know, there were people on there that were showing insights to do things

and it was actually quite innovative.

So for me, the deal we had was, yeah, obviously, when I announce OnlyFans,

you have the herd of people saying, oh, my God, he's going to get his fucking dick out.

Like, obviously not, mate.

Like, basically, the deal was really nice.

And I was like, look, I like the fact that I can go on a platform

and, you know, post tennis stuff.

Post everyday stuff.

Like, when I'm, you know, when I'm doing my family.

Like, it's just basically me vlogging my everyday life, putting it on OnlyFans.

And for me, it's like...

As a tennis player, though?

As a tennis player.

Or just as Nick...

What does Nick Kyrgios do in his everyday life?

I've got content of me clubbing up there.

Like, just everything, basically.

And it's like, think about it.

If some of my favorite people were on OnlyFans

and I could get an insight to how they functioned

or what you do in your business, or just anything,

I'd be like, I would subscribe 20 bucks a month

just to see if I could learn something.

So, yeah.

That's basically what I do on there.

And it's been awesome.

Did you feel confronted when they first asked you?

Did you think, oh, my God, what do they want me to do?

Obviously, yeah.

I was like...

I mean, I definitely knew when they came to me

it was they weren't going to make me, you know, do...

Go naked.

Go something crazy.

But, I mean, I can do that, by the way.

Like, at any moment in time, like, me and my agent

can do something crazy and kinky.

Like, that's not...

It's not like the boundary is there, we can't do it.

But, obviously, I wouldn't do it.

But, yeah, basically...

And it's cool because anytime I make an announcement,

like, say, for Australian Open or Wimbledon,

like, the media has to subscribe to my OnlyFans

to see what I'm doing.

Oh, really?

So, yeah, because I don't...

You don't do media releases.

Exactly.

I do all my media releases through OnlyFans now.

So, I've got people...

So, they're going to become fans.

They're going to become...

Exactly.

I love it.

It's so good.

It's smart as.

It's very clever.

And so, you've got your podcast.

Yep.

You've done six EPS.

Yep, six EPS.

What's the...

Is it about doing, like, 10 or 20 or just keep doing them?

So, the first season has 10 episodes.

Right.

And every couple of weeks,

they come out.

So, the next episode's probably going to be Naomi Osaka.

Wow.

So, yeah.

So, that's really interesting because she's gone through a lot as well.

Totally.

And for tennis players, that's going to be a really good one.

But, yeah, man, it's been really...

Being injured has made me be able to do awesome things,

like, obviously, being a part owner in the Miami Pickleball Club as well.

Time is right.

I want to know about that.

Pickleball.

Yeah.

If you, after this, go have a look at it.

But it's basically probably one of the biggest sports,

probably in the world at the moment.

Wow.

Like, in the States, it's everywhere.

And I guess it's...

Even my dad is obsessed with it because it's, like,

you can play it at a young age and it's not as expensive, say, as tennis.

Like, buying a tennis racket, getting it restrung,

buying tennis balls, booking courts, it's actually quite expensive.

It's an expensive sport.

And pickleball is, like, you can play it until you're about 75

and you can start at probably, like, 10.

So, it doesn't require, I guess, as much skill, per se, as tennis,

but it's, like, it's very accessible for people

and it's growing in Europe.

There's courts everywhere.

There was a tournament in Sydney.

The prize money was, like, 40 grand.

Wow.

And it's, yeah, it's actually becoming, like, quite a big sport.

So, Miami Pickleball Club, I think...

You own that now.

Part owner in it.

Part owner, yeah.

So, Naomi Osaka, my homes, is also a part owner in our one too.

So, we bought it for about $1 million for five of us

and now it's, like, it's worth, like, 10 to 12 in the space of two years.

So, it's really been an amazing investment.

Part owner, yeah.

So, you got your pickleball.

Pickleball and then part owner in the...

South Melbourne Phoenix as well, the NBL team.

And, obviously, we didn't have a great season,

but, yeah, like, obviously, me being an NBA fan,

I wanted to get as heavily involved as possible.

Yeah, man.

So, being injured's opened up a lot of doors.

So, and obviously, there's four things that you're doing there outside of tennis.

Yeah.

But you also, you haven't given tennis away.

So, tennis is now subject to recovery.

Yeah.

Tennis is back on the agenda.

Yes, definitely.

Perhaps later this year or early for the 2025.

Yeah.

Where would Nick Kyrgios like to close off his tennis career?

So, like, a year, two years' time?

What does it look like?

I mean, in an ideal world?

I think I made a kind of, not a commitment or a promise,

but I said I didn't want to play over 30.

Like, when I first came on the scene when I was, like, 18,

I was like, I don't want to play over 30 years old.

I want a family.

I would like a kid before 30 and I would like to have a big family

and spend...

I want to be present with them.

Like, hopefully I can build something outside of the tennis as well,

which I'm doing now,

and I'm able to just be present with my family

and give them as much learning and time as possible.

So, I would say probably a year or two, I think,

I will be playing tennis for.

I think...

And I don't want to be one of those players that fizzles out.

Like, I want to go out on my own terms

and go out basically competing

for some of the biggest tournaments in the world.

And, you know, because I look at some players,

like, not that I think it's a bad thing,

but Andy Murray and some of these great champions

that were at the top of the sport,

well, now they're kind of, you know, they're still at the top,

but they're not, like, you know, competing for Grand Slams.

And I think that's just not what I want to do.

I don't love the game that much to hang around for that long.

So, ideally, one or two more good years

and then I'll hang up the sticks.

So, one or two more good years means two hard, intense years.

Yes.

That means that your prep between here and the day you get back on that course...

Is diligent.

Yeah, it's consistent.

So, this is like you being a mature Nick Kyrgios,

knowing all the shit you've got to get through

and all the dramas that you physically have,

like, you know, you've got to manage all this crap as you get older.

100%.

But really having a good hard crack at it.

Definitely.

Like, day in, day out training.

And that's the thing.

Like, you alluded to it earlier.

It's like people just think I hit tennis balls.

It's like the training, the recovery, the diet,

just the way we have to carry ourselves in public,

like, that all takes energy.

And with all the business things on the side,

with all the conversations I'm having on WhatsApp,

with business meetings here, there,

it's like it all, it's like a certain person,

you have to be ready for it, like, at a mature sort of level.

Like, I have friends that are like,

oh, man, your life must be amazing earning the money.

And I'm like, dude, you wouldn't have any idea where to start

if you're in my position.

Like, you wouldn't, it comes with a great responsibility,

what you do, what I do.

Like, it's not a walk in the park.

It's like, I would love to just lay in bed on it.

Like, yesterday I went to the gym at 10.30.

Like, I don't like doing that, but I do it because I have to do it.

And it's, that's just instilled in me now, like,

I have to go and do extra.

Where, like, people, like, they don't understand that.

So now you're a bit older and you're not that old.

But, like, now you're older, do you feel like you're,

like, a veteran at it?

Oh, yeah.

I mean, I was going overseas at 13, 14 to third world countries

and it opened my perspective up on where I live as we,

anyone who complains in Australia about living is just,

they lack perspective and they have no fucking idea.

Because, like, I was going to Philippines, India,

these places at 13, 14, there was kids coming up to me

begging for money.

And I'm like, I'd come back to Canberra, I'm like,

mate, I live in fucking paradise.

So anyone out in West Sydney as well who thinks they have it rough,

they, like, it's not bad out there in Bankstown,

I'm not going to lie.

But, like, tennis, I think, has really sped up my maturity levels

and, like, it's opened my perspective up.

Made me mature early as, although people don't think I'm mature,

like, I've seen, I've travelled pretty much everywhere in the world,

seen everyone, met a lot of people, a lot of different cultures

and I feel, I was telling Matty before I got here,

I feel, like, 80 years old, like, soul-wise.

I've seen so much and been through so much.

You are a, well, you sort of are an older,

I mean, I'm sitting here talking to you,

you sort of are an older head relative to your age.

I mean, I keep forgetting you're only 27, like, that's crazy.

But in terms of settling down,

because it's sort of like where you're heading towards

in a couple of years' time, what does settle down mean?

I mean, perhaps you might, you know,

I don't know whether you're going to marry Christine or not,

but you're going to hang with Christine, you want to have kids,

is that something she wants to do too?

Yeah, like, she's definitely into the marriage thing.

She tells me a lot and she'll be watching this.

And, you know, I think, yeah, I think one day,

she's definitely the one for me.

Like, I think when I settle down, it's more so like I'm not going out

on a fucking Thursday, getting home at fucking crazy times.

I think that's what it more so means.

Settling down, I think busyness-wise, I'm never going to stop

and I think I'm going to take that.

And I've learned from my dad, like, being purposeful

and doing things keeps you alive longer.

Like, I think that's just, that's the remedy for it.

People, why people get sick and then they kind of,

and it's because they have no stimulation, one,

or they just, they don't keep themselves active.

Obviously, if something comes about and it's a sickness,

obviously you can't do much about that.

But I'm just talking about inactiveness.

I just take a page out of my dad's book.

I'm always going to be active.

And that's what I'm going to be doing.

But settling down, I think it's more so just not stressing her out as much.

Would you like to have kids?

Definitely.

I want to have a huge family.

Yeah, like what does that mean?

Like four or five?

Yeah, I'd love to.

I'd love to.

And does Cosley think the same thing?

Cosley definitely wants kids.

I don't think she wants four or five, but.

Well, she's the one who's got to give birth to them.

That's true.

But I guess at this stage, I'm paying for them, so.

And by the way, you'll pay for that.

Yeah.

For the rest of your life.

Because she'll be listening to this for sure.

Yeah, that's fine.

She knows my humour.

And what will Cosley do there?

Will she continue on doing what she's doing now?

Like she's quite a big influence in her own right.

Yeah.

And she's got her own stuff that she sells.

Yeah.

So just take us, for the audience who doesn't know who Cosley is,

take us through what Cosley is doing.

So she's flat out as well, honestly.

She's, and I'm super proud because when I met her,

I feel like she was very,

she didn't really have a direction of where she wanted to go

or what she wanted to do.

So to see her and her growth over the last three years as well,

not only has she been there for me and supported me

through everything that I have to go through,

she's also been super diligent with her work.

She has a lot of pride in what she does

and she does it like nice and classy.

And I understand someone in her position on social media,

they don't have to be always, you know,

super classy with what they post.

And I'm super, super happy and lucky that she hears me out

and like maybe I don't want guys seeing half your body all the time.

Like she actually is really respectful of me

and she understands that I'm super protective

of us because I know there's a lot of outside noise

trying to tear us apart all the time.

So she's grown up to be a great woman.

She cooks now.

She looks after my home.

We've got a dog together.

So she does look after that little boo as much as she can,

but she's super busy.

You know, she has big deals.

She's doing Bondi Sands.

She does a bunch of stuff.

So she's always on the go as well.

She's an ambassador for Bondi Sands.

Yeah, she's so around.

That's the spray temple.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And, you know, I don't,

I don't need much of it,

but, you know, she's always busy.

So I don't know how she does it, man.

She deals with me.

She keeps me in check

and she looks after our home

and she balances her life.

And I know sometimes she's overwhelmed,

but she's young as well.

How much younger than you is she?

She's five years younger.

Five years younger.

So she's like.

She's 23.

Late, early 20s.

And is she from Canberra or from Sydney?

She's originally from Sydney.

Sydney girl.

Yeah.

And where do you guys live in Australia?

I mean, not, don't give me the address,

but like you live in Canberra with your folks or?

So, no, we live in Sydney together.

Yeah.

We're both from Canberra anyway,

because that's where I do most of my training

and rehab and stuff down there.

Right.

And then, and does she go to Bahamas with you?

She's been there.

Yes.

Yes, she does.

And she travels everywhere with me.

She goes on tour with you, so to speak.

Yeah.

She, she, she wants,

she's going to be watching this,

but she's, she's more protected than I am.

She wants to be everywhere I am.

I want her there too,

but she's like,

I don't think she'd be comfortable with me

traveling alone and going out and stuff.

Being who you are.

Yeah.

Yeah, exactly.

And do you mind if I ask you this?

Like, I mean, it's a tricky question,

but like being, you know,

you're, you're a good looking cat,

you know, you're well known,

you're a sports person,

you're young,

you're, you know, well off,

et cetera.

Temptation always,

I mean, unfortunately,

you're going to be tempted,

or people are going to be throwing temptation

at you all the time.

How do you deal with that?

I think I got most of it out.

When you were younger.

Yeah, when I was younger.

And I think, I think that's,

loyalty is, is a thing where it's like,

I have mates where they're like,

oh, I'm super loyal.

I'm like, you're not loyal.

You just don't have options.

So it's like when you have options

and you continually choose to go back to someone

every single day, that's loyal.

It's like, do you know what I mean?

So it's like, and I've,

I've haven't always been a great person

in this relationship.

Yes.

But in other relationships and when I was younger,

getting thrown all that temptation and everything,

like I wasn't a good person all the time.

So I realized now, like I will got into this relationship.

I wanted it.

I wanted to, I see it longer.

Long-term.

And I think I've created boundaries for myself.

And she understands that I was someone before she met me.

She doesn't really understand who I was beforehand.

And she has nothing to compare me to because if she did,

she would think I'm an angel now.

So it's like, I know that I want to be the best person

I can be for Costain.

And yeah, I think I've gone through that period of my life.

And do you think that's, is that like becomes a bit

of a challenge to you?

It's like, in other words, I like the challenge and I

want to beat the challenge.

I want to.

I want to get over the top of these things because

I'm actually smarter than that.

Yeah.

Or I'm better than that.

Yeah, exactly.

I think with, and I think we were taught as, as like when

we were younger to like, what was cool to be like rich,

famous, talk to a bunch of girls and every, every guy

thinks like that is cool.

And, and, and there was a period where I thought it was cool

to like talking to a bunch of girls and, and, and being an

idiot to them and breaking their heart or whatever.

Like that's not cool in my eyes anymore.

Like I like doing what I like to do, having some fun with my

mates and, and, and achieving some cool things, having this

cool chat and then going home.

And, and eating lunch with my, with my missus, like that for

me is now cool.

And I think she understands that I'm just past that, like

past that stage of doing anything stupid like that.

So.

And how important is it for you to have the right people

around you?

Oh, huge.

Like have you gone through a period where you had the wrong

people around you?

Yeah.

And I think that would be one of the biggest challenges for

me.

I don't know if anyone genuinely wants to be around me because

I'm, I feel like I'm a good guy and I feel like I genuinely

do things with passion and purpose.

And if I'm your friend, I'll look after you.

So it's always been hard for me to kind of keep the right

people around.

Cause I,

but how do you know, like, how do I know if they genuinely

want to be around me?

You know, if, is it for something, is it, do they have

an agenda?

Do you know what I mean?

But how do you deal with that?

Cause it's like, how do you work out if someone's going to

gender or it's just a matter of time?

Well, I think I've found out that you have to kind of let

your walls down all the time.

And if you get hurt, you get hurt because then you miss out

on the best relationships or the best friendships.

If I'm not vulnerable, then I wouldn't have good times.

Do you know what I mean?

So I kind of just, I've got a pretty good feeling if I like

someone and I can kind of tell.

Like Matty was one of, like he, he, most of my people,

like when they meet me, they always have this preconceived

idea.

Like, Oh, this guy's going to be arrogant.

He's going to be this, that.

And then they realize, Oh, he's actually like a good guy.

So it's like, it's more so my judgment of them.

Cause I know that I'm, I'm, I'm a good dude.

I can tell you now with Matty, like he comes from good stock.

I know his dad really well.

Matty's good.

He might have a little bit of, um, you know,

I can't believe he goes to the South though.

Mate, he's the maddest rooster supporter in the world.

But he can't stop talking about Latrell.

I know he's.

Did you not talk about Latrell first thing today?

Did you or not?

He's obsessed with Latrell.

Yeah.

He was like, Oh, your boy.

He just went crazy the other day.

Yeah.

So could you tell me the story about your mates at Valks?

Yep.

Tell us the story about how you met Valk.

So we were doing a Call of Duty PlayStation,

uh, Call of Duty PlayStation, um, kind of advertisement together.

And this is when I wasn't living in Sydney yet.

So I knew I'd come to Sydney.

We were staying in Bondi Friday night.

So we, our shoot was early Saturday morning.

So I was like, fuck, Friday night, can't sleep.

I'm right above Ravisi.

So I was like, fuck, I may as well go get a drink.

So I went with my friend, went downstairs, got a little booth and I'm drinking.

I've only had like four or five.

And then some guy next to me in his booth, he's like, it was about 10 meters away.

It was just so loud.

And at this time I wasn't a big UFC guy, had no idea what Valk looked like.

Like I saw maybe a picture, but I didn't know his height.

That was what threw me off the most.

Cause the guy over there was like five, six or seven.

I was like, the fuck is this guy's pissing me off so loud.

And just a big, like personality.

And I was like to my friends, I was like, dude, if this guy,

I was like, dude, if this guy, I was like, dude, if this guy,

doesn't shut up, I'm just going to go over there and like, tell him like, dude,

just be quiet.

There's people, other people in the place.

Anyway.

So he's had a bit to drink and his friends are kind of like taking him out.

Cause we got it.

We, our call time's at 8am.

So I was like, you know, I'm not gonna drink too much.

Cause I want to be fresh.

And then Valk comes in at the time.

I didn't know who he was.

He comes over to me.

He's like, Kyrgios, man, it's me.

It's me.

And I'm like, oh my God, it's another tennis fan at this time.

I'm going to fucking lose it.

He's like, bro, it's me.

It's Valk.

And I was like, holy shit.

I was like, if I was to tell this guy to shut the fuck up, he would have just knocked me out.

You would have got slammed.

I would have got slammed, bro.

And then like, I told my friend, I was like, oh my God, lucky I didn't say anything.

Cause I would have been in some serious trouble.

And the next day, fresh as a daisy.

Like he would probably, he was definitely having a couple.

Next morning, 8am, fresh as a daisy.

And then we have a pretty good relationship now.

The guy's a machine.

He's an absolute machine.

Love him.

Like, love him.

Feel for him in the last couple of fights.

But I'm going to, you know,

pray and then give him as much energy as possible that he can go over there and get it done in Spain in the rematch.

Yeah.

Have you been to any of the UFC events?

I haven't been to any UFC events.

I would love to go watch him fight.

I'm very particular.

I wouldn't just go.

Like, I'm very like, for instance, I've been invited to a bunch of Formula One races.

Like, I need to be passionate to go to something.

You know what I mean?

I guess that's why I don't go to much NRL.

But now I want to go because one of my closest friends is super into watching.

So I would have to go watch Volk.

I wouldn't go there to just watch anyone else probably.

Mate, if you come to a Roosters game, Nick Politis will be, because he loves Greeks,

he would be so pleased.

Roosters.

Yeah, but man, I could get you a Roosters jersey.

I do.

I have partied with a couple of Roosters, actually.

Well, Teddy's married to a Rooster.

Like, Tedesco, he's married to a Greek girl.

Bradfittler's married to a Greek girl.

There's a lot of Greek girls.

Maybe the Roosters are the way to go.

Maybe.

I'm telling you.

Like, what about Kostya and who?

Did she go for a team?

She doesn't follow the NRL that much.

Okay.

But I think her family.

Now I know how to get to you.

Her family.

Her family's from, some of her family's from Randwick.

Where was it?

That's Rooster.

Oh, God.

Well, South will say it's their territory, but like, because we had a redistribution.

I like the Panthers, though.

I like the Panthers, too.

Panthers are cool.

Like.

No, Troll, I'm riding with you, baby.

The Troll, I'm looking right at you.

No.

No, but maybe I'll just, I might have to contact Kostya and I'll go to Kostya's mum.

Yeah, just say it's not going ahead unless Nick becomes a Rooster.

No, we're going to change this over.

There's got to be Jersey and we're going to get you to sign Jersey.

We might get James Tedesco alongside you and I reckon we can win you over.

And I know that Matty over there would love to see you in a Rooster jersey and a Rooster's hat.

He's always, he's fist pumping at the moment.

Where do you, when you're 40.

Yep.

Which is like, you know, 30 years from now.

Mm-hmm.

Where does Nick Kyrgios want to see himself?

What do you see yourself as a 40-year-old if you could just look that far,

obviously you're not going to be playing tennis, but what are you going to be doing?

What do you think?

More an investor or are you going to be involved in something?

I'm definitely going to be involved in the things that,

the things that I'm invested in now and give my time to like with the pickleball and the NBL team.

Like I think that's going to be something that's always going to have my energy.

And I mean, a dream for me would, would be a GM of one of the teams one day.

That would be cool.

But man, there's so much trauma and stuff that I've gone through in my life

and I've been through like some really tough periods.

I really struggle to look forward.

More than like a week.

Really?

I really live a day by day mindset as if,

if I wake up and I'm in a good mood, then that's a win for me.

Like it's, it was so dark at one stage.

Like I didn't want to live and I didn't want to get up and I didn't want to do anything.

So now when I go for a walk in the morning,

sit down with Maddie and just get a coffee and sit down like that five minutes we were down there,

like that type of stuff is like what I live for now.

That's gold.

It is.

And I, that I wouldn't trade for thinking ahead.

For me, scary because I just think there's so many things with health,

with family that can happen in any given moment.

I've seen people be super healthy and next day they find out they've got something that could end their life.

It's like for me, that's so scary.

So it's really struggle to look forward.

I hate like thinking 13 years ahead.

Well, man, if I can just get through this week or today in like a good, positive way, then that's a bonus for me.

What about if though if Nick Kyrgios, because you do it sort of doing on OnlyFans,

it sort of can be very inspirational.

Particularly to young kids, young tennis players, et cetera, who want to emulate you.

Yeah.

What about Nick Kyrgios being someone who pays forward those experiences and helps lots of other younger people

who are currently experiencing what you experience and you did it successfully here, you are sitting here, still here.

Yep.

And you did it in a very successful way too.

Yep.

What about helping younger people?

I mean, how does Nick Kyrgios feel about that?

So yeah, I have my own foundation, NK Foundation, that's in Melbourne.

It's basically giving people a sporting chance, not just tennis, just to have the opportunity to play sport.

But yeah, like that's one thing in my career that I'm super active in and giving back, you know, every charity event.

I'm trying to do a lot of charity days in Canberra, in Australia.

But yeah, like for instance, on this topic, like I've had to spend a couple of days with like three, I've done three Make-A-Wish,

like spend days with kids that have made a wish to their last wish.

I guess was to spend a day and meet Nick Kyrgios and I've actually kept in contact with one in particular and I met up with him the other day in Brisbane.

So his wish was to meet me at a basketball game, an NBL game, and we sat together and I met him.

And I think that's been the most special thing about my career is like, like people like when they've been diagnosed with something that's going to end their life,

they're like one of their last choices is to just spend a day with me.

And for me, that's like, that's more powerful than anything I've ever achieved on court or, you know,

what I invest in or what I don't invest in.

Like anything like that is just, and that's what I don't understand some of the negativity around me sometimes.

Like I'm giving my time and doing things actively like this, like his name is Brooklyn and he's got this sickness.

I don't know the exact name, but it affects his heart and his mobility.

So he's like a 16 year old kid who was living his life completely normal up until 14.

Now he can't even walk without, you know, basically help.

And he has to go to Philadelphia in June and July to get treatment.

Like.

For me, I'm always trying to actively do this because it's so humbling for me.

It's like, no matter what I do, it's like that always brings me down to a level of just like being a nice human.

And I think I try and actively give back as much as I can.

And it is exhausting as well because spending days with people like that, it's hard like emotionally.

So, but I mean, he'll watch this because he's a huge fan.

He loves, he loves me for some reason.

I gave him a pair of custom shorts a couple of days ago.

So now I do try and give back as much as I can.

But do you ever sit down and think to yourself, oh my God, like someone's one of their last

wishes towards the end of their life or they might have something as incurable is to meet

me, Nick Kyrgios.

Yeah.

Do you ever think to yourself, how could that be?

What, what, like.

Yeah, I don't, I don't.

Yeah, I guess when I, when I feel bad, I guess that's what brings me up.

When I feel a bit like when I'm a bit, when I'm not motivated to go to the gym or when

I'm just like feel a bit lazy, then I, I.

That kind of picks me up.

It's like, bro, there are people out there that don't have any options anymore.

Like they're getting towards that point and they want you to be you.

It's like, okay, I can't stop.

Like I can't stop doing it.

And I think people struggle to understand.

I think, yeah, people struggle to understand my motivation at times.

Like my girl, like Costein's like, why are you going to the gym at 10 30?

Like they don't, I don't think they understand the why behind I do things.

And that's one of them.

Like I've got kids like that looking up to me.

So.

Why doesn't the media ever talk about that you reckon?

I don't know.

I guess.

I don't know.

I guess they just doesn't sell it.

I don't think it sells, you know, like I feel like I've done a lot for the country as well.

You know, the bushfires, we raised like $5 million for the bushfires.

I actively went like a couple of nights beforehand messaging Serena Williams, all these people

to try and do the rally for a leaf.

You know, we, me and Novak raised 250 grand in, in an hour and a half on court a couple

years ago.

And just, I, I, I, I've tried.

And to the point where I don't even care if they talk about it or not because for me personally,

my, the way I feel, it makes me feel at least not like a piece of shit, you know?

So it makes me feel good.

Yeah.

I was talking to someone a little while ago about, um, the concept of, his name is Danny

Abdullah.

I don't know if you know Danny, but he, he lives in West, lives in West Sydney and, um,

his kids got, um, unfortunately got, um, uh, run over some, a couple of his kids got run

over and were tragically killed by a drunk person.

Yeah.

So anyway, I said to Danny, he runs a, he runs a program now around forgiveness.

And I said to him, mate, how did you forgive the dude who did this?

And by the way, Danny's no shrinking violet either.

Like, you know, he's the sort of guy who, if he got hold of the person, he would probably

break him in half.

Yep.

And, um, he said, Mark, because forgiveness is, um, not just a charitable thing or a Christian

thing to do, but it said, it's more about me having to do that in order to deal with

my life.

It was more of a selfish thing.

Yep.

Uh, it, it's good for the person I forgive and it's a good thing, good concept to talk

about, but it's actually really important to me in a selfish way because I wouldn't

be able to do it in my life unless I forgive the dude.

Do you think that, um, and I, and I, I'll be honest, straight up, I do a lot of charitable

things for selfish reasons to help me out, to make me feel like I deserve what I get,

because I always think I don't deserve what I get.

Yep.

Super generous.

Yeah.

How, how important is it to you at a, at a, in a selfish sort of way, and I don't mean

a bad selfish way, but in a selfish way to do these things, like you just said, raise

money for these individuals, you know, you've got Serena Williams to help out with the bushfires,

man.

And how conscious are you of, I'm doing this for, for myself too, to, to give myself some

legitimacy as a good human being?

Yeah.

I think I've, I've always thought that there's a big correlation between generosity and guilt.

I think.

Not guilt, but just like, I think you hit the nail on the head.

Like it makes me feel like I'm able to keep living this life.

If I'm just like always trying to give back and make sure that I'm bringing people along

with me and looking after my friends, I'm always super generous.

Like I've, I don't let my friends pay for anything.

Cause I just feel like I've been blessed with so many things, like I need to help out as

much as I can.

And that's why I give my time to these kids or trying to do charitable things.

Like I'll always put my hand up first to do things like if it's like go to a kid's hospital,

and like, I just love doing it.

I just love doing it as well because it makes them happy.

But for me, it makes me feel like, okay, I deserve, I guess this life that I'm living.

You're a worthy person.

Yeah.

It makes me feel like, okay, I've, I've done my, at the end of the day, like I've done

what makes you a good human.

Like everyone would agree that if you're doing those things makes you a good human, then

like, yeah, it makes me feel worthy.

Yeah.

So therefore, perhaps the reason you don't really give a shit whether the media picks

up or not is because you're not doing it for them.

No, I'm not doing it for them.

You're doing it for yourself.

Yeah.

I mean, the kid, like, I mean, he was watching me hit tennis balls the other day and he was

just sitting there and he just had a smile on his face, we're just talking, like he just

loved it.

And it's like, I'm not even doing anything abnormal.

I'm just-

It's so mad, eh?

Yeah.

I'm just talking to him and just hitting some balls.

And he loved it.

That's it.

It's it.

But I guess to some extent it helps someone like you explain to yourself the concept of

greatness.

Yep.

I mean, Nick Kyrgios is a great sports person and great and greatness in, in the eyes of

many, many, like millions probably around the world.

It helps you understand or grasp this concept of greatness.

What does it actually fucking mean?

Yep.

And really what it means is I've got to give to them.

Yes.

That's-

I think that's why I keep playing too.

Cause like, I think for me, I don't have anything to prove anymore, but I just want, I've got

a lot of fans and people that want me to continue to make their day, like I'm playing for them

now.

But I wasn't always this way too, like I was a piece of shit, like I was a bad person and

I think accountability is the biggest thing of it all.

Like I'm able to change, be who I am now because I was so bad before and so selfish and such

a bad person to people.

Now I'm consciously like really proud of like the end result.

And I think that's why people like, they don't understand why I do things now because I was

just, I don't want to be that person anymore.

I was just a really bad person.

Can I, I just want to finish up one more question because I mean, I've always been, I've, I've

asked my mate Jeff Fennec to, who used to be my coach.

Yeah.

Who used to train Mike Tyson to get me an interview with Mike, cause I went over the

States recently and I, but it just didn't work out cause Mike was too busy.

But what is it like to be on his podcast, Hot Boxing?

I was high as a kite, man.

I was just-

Just explain why.

Why?

So Mike Tyson walked in and we were doing this podcast and my podcast in the same studio.

So he set up his, he had people set up his and then he walked in with a piece of weed

on his necklace.

So I already knew from that, I was like, okay, this guy really likes marijuana.

And then he continued to talk and he was like, weed saved my life because he was partying

and doing coke and just, he was doing that nightly.

And he said that weed really opened up my life and settled it down in a way to the point

I just do that all day, every day now.

So I'm sitting next to him and we're doing the podcast and then-

By the way, it's legal in America.

It's legal in America.

Yeah.

It's legal in America.

Like my eyes are starting to-

Was he smoking?

He smoking- he was right here and the other guest was here.

And I was just like, there's smoke all around me and I'm like, whoa, this stuff's getting

me going.

And then to the point where in the thing I saw, I'm leaning back in the chair a little

bit and I'm like, I'm really feeling it now.

And then, anyway his podcast stops.

And then he gives me his gift cause he has his own form of edibles.

Like he sells them.

Like you know the-

Jellies and things like that.

Yeah.

of the ear the ear that he bit off yeah anyway so i'm like okay i'll hit those tonight whatever

and then like i'm looking myself in the mirror i'm like shit i gotta do my podcast now and i can't

like think straight and i'm splashing water in my face in the bathroom i said to his wife because

i was like i think i'm high i can't i can't do this anyway i managed to do it and then um anyway

that episode hasn't aired yet but it like you could definitely tell that i'm a bit i'm a bit

gone basically his hot boxing is just you're in a room and you're just getting you're just high

he asked me if i wanted one and i was like no i've got to do you need it if i did it i wouldn't

have been able to function all day no chance that stuff was strong as hell so hot boxing is as in

hot ones yeah that's what it's sort of about that's it just getting high and just talking

about anything but he's quite amazing because i remember jeff told me once that um when he used

to walk around his house you'd feel like you're high too because it was just been smoked all the

time and he's quite open about it he is yeah very he's talking about everything it helps him be a

good person yes a better person yes or not the person he hates about himself and he can be either

way what do you think

about the his fight coming up with one of the paul brothers what do you think about that i think

that is i think it's i have so many thoughts about it and did you talk to me about in your podcast

uh no because i filmed the podcast like before that yeah before then but i just i think it's

mark for mark ability it's unbelievable obviously like i think it would it's on netflix i mean the

amount of money they're both going to make is absurd and i know all that sort of side of it

so i'm like it's amazing but as a 60 year old going back to fight and

it's like mike tyson doesn't need the money so it's like and and for jake you know i'm actually

quite close to logan paul jake's brother and it's just like i don't want jake to lose because if he

loses it's like can you ever fight again after you've lost to a 60 year old mike like i feel

like it tarnishes agree but then if he wins it's like all right you beat up on a 60 year old yeah

is there really any win there well other than he'll get many a bit much bigger audience correct

his audience will just grow i just

can it be a draw it can be a draw yeah yeah the judge can call a draw for sure

maybe that's the best way if it's a draw that would be the best result i hope it's a draw

because mike's pretty scary i'm not getting in the ring with a 60 i don't care how old he is

he's a pretty scary guy he's scary he was telling me there's some gems he dropped he would get

hypnotized before every fight to kill the person oh really yep an actual hypnotist used to hypnotize

him before every time he got in the ring because he used to stand there like yep he was that's why

back and forth they look like he's hypnotized yeah he looked like he's an

out of mind he told me he was he used to get hypnotized to kill the other person oh my god

so do you think okay but just want just just i just want to finish off this because we get we're

getting wound up here but um just do you think though mike's doing it for the show i hope so

the theater yeah maybe maybe i mean look the payday would be amazing yeah so i just don't

want either of them to get hurt because i think it's gonna be a bad look and i just i i don't know

i've seen videos of mike tyson still training he oh my god

dangerous yeah but he only gone for 30 seconds i know that's what i mean what he's surely gonna

get i don't know i don't know i'm gonna be watching though that's what we'll all watch

that's exactly i mean i and i'm a like i love proper boxing and i'm gonna be i'm a proper

boxing fan but i will watch the fight because i'm just curious to see what exactly and that's

that's that's what it is this day and age it's like who cares if you got a could be giraffe

first jake people will watch yeah and that's all that matters and then and it plays to our

what you said earlier about yourself it plays to our sense of curiosity and curiosity is really

important but you need some theater around the whole thing definitely and you know

i just love a show and that's it that's the show mike tyson i just love a show and uh i would go

i would watch that in vegas if i was in vegas i mean we we watch all the great shows i mean

i just love a show one final question um any tennis breakaway games do you think

do you think there'll be a tennis breakaway similar to what golf's done well i think uh

there's potential for it but the thing about tennis is there's there's four different governing

bodies so the pga was just the pga right so tennis has itf which is the four grand slam

and that's it so they have the uh the davis cup and the four grand slams and then the atp tour have

their own little section as well and then there's wta which is the women so there's so different

like governing bodies of the sport that they can't do that just yet because one might not

agree with the other and it's just it's a shit show yeah so they need there needs to be one

thing first and then they could probably do it but i don't think it could happen anytime soon

because i would have thought someone like you is you'd be a perfect guy to get oh a hundred

percent i would i would be the first to sign up perfect you know because obviously the money

would be much better much better but yeah at the moment they can't do it it's not one tour yet

because i've seen that um james magnuson has been talking about going into the um enhanced olympics

this one yeah and uh i shouldn't have a problem with it like uh you know because like if they

can work out some way to make us better humans going forward i don't have a big it's not a big

deal for me i mean everyone's carrying on about it but i'm not saying he should be able to go

in the enhanced olympics and just see what the effect of someone like james magnuson getting on

gear whatever gear they put him on i'm actually curious yeah i'm i'm i'm for if we're going to be

like if everyone can do it then i don't i don't have a problem with it it's just it's a sports

where some people are doing some people that's right different that's different but if everyone

knows that okay this is this is what's allowed i would i would watch it yeah me too i'm definitely

going to watch it and i want to see if they can break a world record yeah because i want to see

correct if it really does that yeah correct yeah and it might because it might not you know yeah

and james magnuson i mean obviously

i'm trying to get him on the show but like i think it'd be just unreal to

watch how his body changes too like i'm because i'm like i'm an older guy now and but you know

i often think to myself you know if i had an injury recently and i think to myself what about

if i got on peptides and stuff like that you know 100 i would love to have done that yeah well you

can't i can't of course not but if but if you're not a competitor you probably could in america

yes you probably could in the states and you probably would have got better much more quickly

100 and not go through all the dramas and if it can speed things up i don't really see the problem

yeah i mean it's a bit like smoking marijuana like it's not my go but like

if it makes you a better person or the best version of yourself then yeah then it's okay

if it does i guess they just want everyone on the exact same level playing field i guess they want

us all to do the same thing correct and they also want to be everybody wants us to be the same yep

and that's the best way to finish this off because nick kyrgios has never been the same no

which is why nick kyrgios is nick kyrgios correct and people who are listening that's

me a bit of gold yeah it is definitely got a final works for you everyone's different but

everyone's trying to keep this the same yes just ask questions ask questions nick kyrgios thanks

very much no worries i appreciate that was awesome that was fun a lot of fun

if you've been listening along for a while you'll know i'm all about staying sharp

physically and mentally as i get older staying on top of my game means being smarter with how

i support my body and my mind and i'm going to be a better person and i'm going to be a better

day in day out one product i've already added to my routine from the bulk nutrients range

is their nmn extend it's a science-backed blend of 10 powerful ingredients including nmn resveratrol

and hyaluronic acid now this is designed to support everything from energy and muscle recovery

to skin hydration joint health and even mental clarity and by the way i need all those whether

i'm powering through a busy week or just investing in my long-term health

nmn extend helped me stay ready for whatever's next and believe me it tastes pretty good too

head to bulknutrients.com.au and see why nmn extend might be the edge you just been looking

for not all that long ago money was simple you earned it save some spend some and maybe invested

in a house if you were lucky no apps no online banking no thinking beyond what was in your wallet

but times have changed in today's money market growth can come in many ways and the way we think

is continuously evolving enter australia's highest rated crypto exchange swiftx whether you are just

starting to explore the crypto market or are already deep in the game swiftx makes it easy

to acquire sell and trade digital assets all in one place so if you're someone who's thought about

dipping your toes in the crypto market but isn't sure where to start this might be for you visit

to check it out

Need your own podcast transcribed?