Nick Kyrgios Tests Positive for Cocaine, Citing Wake-Up Call Amid Career Struggles

LONDON — Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios announced on Wednesday that he has tested positive for cocaine, referring to the incident as a wake-up call during a challenging period in his career plagued by injuries. The 31-year-old Australian, who has a history of disciplinary issues, has been provisionally suspended after participating in just ten singles matches on the ATP tour since his peak season in 2022, in which he reached the grass-court Grand Slam final but lost to Novak Djokovic.

Currently ranked 919th in the world, Kyrgios disclosed that he tested positive for the drug at a lower-tier grass court event in Mallorca, Spain, in June. “I recently failed a drug test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine,” he stated on his Instagram account. “I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for it.”

The latest development adds to Kyrgios’ controversial career, which saw him achieve a notable victory in a “Battle of the Sexes” match against Aryna Sabalenka in Dubai last December. As he faces potential sanctions of up to four years, he may receive a lighter penalty since cocaine use outside of competition typically incurs lesser sanctions. In a precedent set in 2017, British player Dan Evans received a one-year ban from the International Tennis Federation for a similar infraction at the Barcelona Open.

Kyrgios has expressed the emotional toll of his recent injuries, stating, “At times I’ve felt helpless and alone. None of that excuses what I did.” He elaborated on the physical and mental challenges he has faced, noting that “my body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do.”

This year, Kyrgios holds a 1-3 record in singles matches and received a wildcard to play doubles at Wimbledon last month, where he lost in the first round alongside partner Alexander Bublik. The International Tennis Integrity Agency indicated that Kyrgios’ sample was collected on June 22 and the positive result confirmed on July 17, after which he participated in Wimbledon. Consequently, a provisional suspension was imposed on August 4, which Kyrgios has not contested.

Reflecting on the situation, Kyrgios remarked, “However, the good news is that this has given me a wake-up call,” implying he is not ready to end his career. He also announced plans to step back from social media and public life for 28 days to focus on his well-being.

Kyrgios’ last title came in August 2022 at a hard-court event in Washington, D.C., after which he advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open, ultimately losing to Karen Khachanov. Following a knee injury in Tokyo in October 2022, he has played only once in two years, due to a wrist injury that caused him to miss Wimbledon in 2023. His performance in the 2025 season yielded a disappointing 1-4 record, including an early exit in the Australian Open.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn