(Reuters) – Nick Kyrgios expressed his gratitude to Andy Murray for noticing signs of self-harm on his body and reaching out to him. The 28-year-old tennis player has been vocal about his mental health struggles, even sharing about his time in a psychiatric hospital after a Wimbledon loss in 2019 in a Netflix documentary in June. Kyrgios revealed in an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV that Murray has always been a strong supporter and mentor to him from the beginning of his career, taking him under his wing.
He acknowledged Murray’s efforts to offer him advice, particularly when he noticed the self-harm marks on Kyrgios’ arm. Although Kyrgios did not immediately heed Murray’s counsel, he expressed deep gratitude for his concern and support. In February of the previous year, Kyrgios posted a lengthy message on Instagram discussing his mental health struggles, ending on a positive note about being in a better place mentally. Currently sidelined due to injury, Kyrgios stated that he takes pride in being able to support others who are dealing with mental health issues.
“I’ve almost been a beacon for people who are struggling,” he shared. “When they feel like they’re overwhelmed and they’re going towards drinking, drugs and stuff, they open up and they feel like I’m relatable. That’s been the most powerful thing in my career, people coming to me with genuine issues.”
Kyrgios’ openness about his struggles has indeed made a significant impact, as he has become a source of support for others facing similar challenges. (Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
