Professional tennis player Nick Kyrgios said he hopes to “disrupt” the world of social media sports stars after joining OnlyFans—a video-sharing site known for adult content—where he’s promised there will be “tennis balls involved” in what he posts on the pay-to-view website.
Key Takeaways
- Kyrgios announced he was joining OnlyFans on Thursday to “create, produce, direct and own content,” adding that he’s been “speaking to my fans directly for years” and knows what they’ll want to see on his channel.
- The 28-year-old tennis star didn’t say exactly what he’d be sharing, but promised there would be “tennis balls involved” alongside “tips, tricks and behind the scenes” content, adding it will be free to subscribe.
- OnlyFans is best-known for creators who share X-rated content to subscribers willing to pay a monthly fee for access, but several athletes and celebrities have joined in recent years.
- UFC fighter Paige VanZant joined the site last year, and said she made more money in her first 24 hours posting adult content on the site than in her athletic career.
- The platform also features former Charlton Athletic soccer player Madeleine Wright, Brazilian volleyball player Key Alves and speed skater Elise Christie, who reportedly started making OnlyFans content to fund her dream of making it to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- Kyrgios is one of the first, and likely the most prominent, professional male athletes to join OnlyFans.
Crucial Quote
“Athletes can no longer just show up on the court or the field. We have to show up online too,” Kyrgios said in the announcement of his new channel.
Key Background
Kyrgios started his professional tennis career in 2012 and has seven ATP tour singles titles. He was the runner-up to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2022 and is only the third player to have beaten Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in his first-ever matches against them. Kyrgios this year withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open and the inaugural United Cup because of a cyst in his lateral meniscus. He had a surgery on his left knee in January and was supposed to return months later, but rehab forced him to withdraw from Indian Wells, and he pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon due to separate injuries.
Tangent
Kyrgios has been a controversial figure in professional tennis and has faced multiple fines for his on-court behaviour. Stefanos Tsitsipas accused Kyrgios of being a bully and called him “evil” after the Australian shouted expletives at him and an umpire during the match, resulting in a $4,000 fine. He was accused last year of assaulting a former girlfriend, but the charges were dismissed in February.