Australia's Nick Kyrgios writes about ‘suicidal thoughts,’ depression

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Tennis pro Nick Kyrgios says he had "suicidal thoughts" and dealt with depression and abuse of drugs and alcohol in the past, the latest in a series of high-profile athletes to speak publicly and frankly about their mental health.

The 26-year-old Australian, who has been ranked as high as No. 13 in singles and recently won the Australian Open men’s doubles title, wrote in a message posted Thursday on his verified Instagram account that he now is "proud to say I’ve completely turned myself around and have a completely different outlook on everything."

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Kyrgios included a photograph of himself sitting at a tennis court that he said was taken three years ago at the Australian Open.

He called that time "one of my darkest periods" and pointed out that his right arm in that photo displays what he called evidence of "self harm."

"I was having suicidal thoughts and was literally struggling to get out of bed, let alone play in front of millions. I was lonely, depressed, negative, abusing alcohol, drugs, pushed away family & friends," Kyrgios wrote. "I felt as if I couldn’t talk or trust anyone. This was a result of not opening up and refusing to lean on my loved ones and simply just push myself little by little to be positive."

Nick Kyrgios of Team World reacts during his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Team Europe on Day 2 of the 2021 Laver Cup at TD Garden on September 25, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images for Laver Cup)

Kyrgios, currently ranked 137th, is one of the most entertaining, enigmatic and polarizing athletes in his sport, simultaneously supremely