Nick Kyrgios says tennis isn't over yet. But if he does, there will be plenty of business opportunities.
“Yeah, I mean, I'm still playing, so that's the key to everything,” he says ahead of the launch of his first design project, the Nick Kyrgios x Illesteva glasses collection. told me. “I didn't want to finish playing tennis and say, 'What's next?'” I learned great lessons from players like Kobe. [Bryant]lebron [James]K.D. [Kevin Durant]Naomi [Osaka] You start thinking about business while you're playing, not after. That's how you can have the most impact. ”
The Australian tennis star, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, won the major doubles title at the 2022 Australian Open and rose to No. 13 in the world rankings, has not played in a major tournament since the 2022 US Open. Not yet. Due to injury. He's still fighting to get back on the court, but he said he's not wasting his time off the court.
Kyrgios has become a mainstay on the microphone, hosting the show “Good Trouble” on Tennis Channel's Second Network and providing commentary on various live television broadcasts during major tournaments. But his latest effort debuts the Nick Kyrgios x Illesteva collection. This collection features his two unisex court-ready eyeglass frames available in two colors, and an additional unisex his acetate street-focused design in four colors.
“This is really my first design project,” he says of the handmade Italian frames, which went on sale May 15. “And this was a pretty non-traditional business deal that really appealed to my entrepreneurial side.”
Kyrgios said Illesteva was a brand he and his girlfriend Kostin Hazzi had been eyeing for a while. They had seen “cool people” like James wearing the frames, but Kyrgios “really thought they were the coolest brand in the category.”
“Embracing Nick's dynamic style both on and off the court, we married his unique design vision with his passion for tennis, coffee and basketball through our campaigns and collections,” Illesteva CEO Daniel Silverman told me. I will tell you.
“The frame is exactly what I imagined,” says Kyrgios. “Even if it wasn't mine, I would still be a customer. The images from the shoot are a good representation of the vibe we were going for.”
As part of Evolve, the agency started by Osaka and her agent Stuart Duguid, Kyrgios was given access to the world of creative director Carly Duguid. “Carly has had an illustrious career in fashion and design, so it was really great for her to learn from her,” he says.
Kyrgios' first foray into design may not be his last in the business world, but so far his sweet spot is behind the microphone.
“It's all very natural,” he says. “I love meeting new people and talking about life,” he said, referring to his one-on-one interviews with celebrities on “Good Trouble.” “I feel like I still have tennis left in me, but this is a career I can envision for years to come. The show 'Good Trouble' is definitely getting a lot of attention.”
Mr Kyrgios said he was also learning the tricks of private equity investing to diversify his portfolio to take in some of the steady growth of the business.
Tennis will continue to be a way of life and a business for Kyrgios. “I'll probably be at Wimbledon in some way,” he says of the July tournament. “I still want to play, but if I don't, I'm going to be on the TV side. And 'Good Trouble' Season 2 is going to be great.”