"Not to take criticism too hard... Continue to be that showman that you have inside you" - Nick Kyrgios on what he would tell his 18-year-old self
Nick Kyrgios spoke this week about how he took criticism personally when he was a teenager. The Aussie has been out of action for a long time and is set to make his return to the ATP Tour in 2025.
Kyrgios was touted to have a bright future in tennis because of his talent and his impressive junior career, winning three junior Grand Slams across singles and doubles. While the Aussie hasn't exactly lived up to expectations, he has produced some impressive performances throughout his career and won a few titles.
The 29-year-old appeared earlier this week on The AO Show. He was asked what he would tell his 18-year-old self, as he was shown one of his tennis magazine covers. Kyrgios responded that he would advise himself not to take criticism too seriously. The Aussie added that he used to take others' comments very personally in his younger days.
"I would probably say... not to take criticism too hard at that time. I was an emotional kid and I was a sensory person, like, I took comments very personally. So, I would tell myself maybe not to take the criticism so hard because it really affected me. I'd probably say, 'Just continue to be that showman that you have inside you.'
"I didn't realize I was going to send such shockwaves through the tennis world, I guess. I was 18, I had no idea that I was able to do that. I was a kid from Canberra, still in school. I'd say just don't take criticism too hard."
Nick Kyrgios to compete in Abu Dhabi exhibition event before ATP Tour return in 2025
Nick Kyrgios is set to make his return to action in the 2025 season but before that, he will compete in the World Tennis League, which is an exhibition event scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 19-22 this year. The Aussie will be part of the "Kites" team alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas, Paula Badosa, and Jasmine Paolini.
Three other teams will compete in the event. The "Eagles" will be comprised of Casper Ruud, Iga Swiatek, Hubert Hurkacz, and Barbora Krejcikova. The "Hawks" will feature Taylor Fritz, Sumit Nagal, Aryna Sabalenka, and Mirra Andreeva, while the Falcons will have Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Elena Rybakina, and Caroline Garcia.
Kyrgios is set to compete in his first tournament since June 2023 at the Brisbane International, which will start on December 29. It will be the 29-year-old's third appearance at the tournament, which he won in 2018 after beating Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-2 in the final.