Follow us on Google Discover Nick Kyrgios has endured another frustrating season on the ATP Tour, in which he’s played just five times.
Once ranked 13th on the ATP Tour, the controversial Australian figure has now fallen to 661st place in the world.
Kyrgios won just one singles match this year and lost his other four, having been hampered by injury once more.
Such issues have continued into the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Hong Kong, where Kyrgios was forced to withdraw.
But rather than head home early, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist has stayed on to coach fellow player Richard Gasquet.
Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty ImagesNick Kyrgios names the ATP player he would like to coach once he retires
Kyrgios has hinted at retirement, with a possible post-playing career perhaps already emerging in Hong Kong.
Asked how coaching has been going during Gasquet’s match with Juncheng Shang, he told the UTS Tour: “I really like it.
“Obviously to coach someone like Richard, he’s an absolute legend of the game, 20 plus years professionally.
“And all the players here respect him, so it’s an absolute honor to be next to him at the moment, even though he’s in a bit of trouble, it’s all good.”
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He was then asked if he thinks he’ll go into coaching after retiring, and if so, who he would coach, to which he replied: “I think I will join Richie first with some drinks. I think we’ll enjoy that first. But I wouldn’t mind coaching that guy down the other end (Shang).
“He’s a bit confident right now, but I have all faith in Richie that he’s going to come back and win this quarter.”
Who is ATP number 218 Juncheng Shang?
Shang went on to win his quarterfinal tie against Gasquet, with the Chinese ace defeating the Frenchman 3-1.
Aged just 20, Shang currently occupies 218th place in the world rankings, but he has already managed to break the top 50.
RankWin-lossTitlesPrize money20252186-80$386,705Career4735-401$2,170,250Juncheng Shang 2025 vs career stats
He rose to number 47 last October, while he also already boasts one ATP title after triumphing at the 2024 Chengdu Open.
Shang completed a dream run with a final victory over top seed Lorenzo Musetti, having also beaten the likes of Alexander Bublik and Kei Nishikori.
The Chinese talent was also part of the exciting NextGen ATP Finals lineup in 2024, competing alongside fellow rising stars Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien among others.
In a breakout season, the youngster also reached the third rounds of both the Australian Open and the US Open.