'Please don't spread this garbage': Kyrgios rubbishes his own column

The polarising figure has written a column for Nine newspapers throughout the Australian Open as part of his role commentating during the tournament.

This week Kyrgios delved into his playing future and acknowledged retirement is a realistic proposition.

The 28-year-old endured a torrid 2023, playing just one match as he battled a string of injuries. A wrist complaint forced him to withdraw from this year's Australian Open.

While Kyrgios has been guarded about the exact nature of the injury, it was serious enough to require surgery and wrist ligament injuries are notoriously difficult for tennis players to overcome.

The Canberra talent expressed his desire to play at Wimbledon and the US Open, but with the physical challenge of playing tennis becoming increasingly difficult to overcome, he acknowledged he may never return to the court.

"The reality is, there is a part of me that knows my time in the sport may be over," he wrote. "And I'm OK with that."

Now, however, Kyrgios has taken to social media to declare he will be back, even labelling speculation he might retire "garbage".

The tennis player posted a photo with the caption: "Attention.... I am not retiring. Please don't spread this garbage. I'm coming back and will be lighting up courts soon."

Kyrgios has maintained a high profile throughout the Australian Open with his media duties and even conducted an on-court interview with Novak Djokovic following the world No.1's quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz on Tuesday night.

The 28-year-old has relished his time in the commentary box and revealed in his column a full-time commentary gig could lie in his future.

"I could travel the world making really good money commentating on the sport, doing things like I am now with my talk show interviewing guys like Gordon Ramsay and Mike Tyson," Kyrgios wrote.

"That's a life people wish they had. Even the players on the circuit would love to be doing what I am doing now, but they have a different way of thinking."

After the photo declaring his desire to return to the court, Kyrgios added a video in which he delved further into speculation he was preparing to transition to commentary.

"Hey guys. So I've woken up today and realised about some articles going around saying that I'm retired and I'm not going to play anymore and I just want to clear it up, like it's absolute nonsense," he said.

"Yes, the last year has been tough with injury - my knee, my wrist - but I'm hungry as ever, constantly rehabbing in the gym.

"You know, part of the reason why I'm commentating and doing all these things around AO is to still feel that fire and still be a part of it. So I just want to let everyone know, all my fans, I'm coming back, stay tuned, but there's plenty left in the tank. Don't stress."

Kyrgios also confirmed in Wednesday's column that he will miss the 2024 Paris Olympics, blasting his treatment from 2016 chef de mission Kitty Chiller prior to the Rio Games.

The official controversially banned tennis bad boys Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic in a public feud leading up to the event. Chiller declined to comment when contacted by The Canberra Times.

Despite the incident happening eight years ago, Kyrgios revealed it continues to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

"The way I was treated by the Australian Olympic Committee and former chef de mission Kitty Chiller will never be forgotten.

"To ban me from playing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games was a disgrace. I was No.13 at the time and had a genuine chance at winning a medal. For them to forbid me from representing my country for behavioural reasons is something that I just can't forget.

"I won't be putting my hand up to play in Paris this year. Eight years ago, I was desperate to represent Australia at an Olympic Games, but my mentality has changed.

"I wanted to play for my country, I can't say that I still have that desire. And let's be honest, I haven't exactly felt like Australia has wanted me to represent it either. I've said before, I often feel more at home away from home."