Nick Kyrgios has emphatically hit again at Australian tennis legend Pat Rafter right after he created remarks about his connection with fellow gamers on tour.
Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis took the Australian Open by storm in 2022 when they teamed up and claimed the doubles crown.
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The duo, nicknamed the “Special Ks”, introduced their flair to the court and experienced crowds up and off their ft all game prolonged.
But Rafter explained the way the pair conduct on their own on the court has ruffled feathers between people on tour and left them on the outside in just the locker area.
Rafter appeared on the Australian Open: The Joyful Slam podcast and labelled the doubles act as a “circus”.
“It’s an attention-grabbing one that is, because the players are genuinely upset about it,” Rafter claimed.
“I really do not know how that operates with them and does not actually hassle me either way. It’s a bit of a circus … doubles is a wonderful event, it’s a large amount of enjoyment, and it aids you with singles, but it’s not exactly where it’s at. But at the exact time, it’s enjoyment.”
The pair experienced crowds lining up to capture a glimpse of their historic operate and when Rafter states they are attracting far more crowds he doesn’t believe it’s worth it when they’re finding under the skin of other players.
“If they create drama, build ticket revenue, and they make men and women looking at, then very good on them, but at what expense, I do not know. The gamers are seriously upset. Are you intended to fully grasp the underwritten rule that that’s not how you behave when you do?” Rafter mentioned.
Kyrgios however wasn’t acquiring it and strike again at previous Davis Cup captain Rafter, slamming the Aussie great for owning no idea what he was talking about or what is going on powering closed doors.
“He would have totally zero thought on what the locker space thinks. Me and kokk have excellent interactions with most of the players on tour. Dude is clueless,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.
Kyrgios couldn’t help himself and took a cheeky swipe at his critics just after it emerged a pre-Australian Open up exhibition match that includes the Australian star and Novak Djokovic had bought out in much less than an hour.
Tennis Australia manager Craig Tiley on Monday verified Kyrgios would take on Djokovic this Friday night time in an exhibition match “extravaganza” at Rod Laver Arena.
Tickets for the blockbuster celebration showcasing the star duo went on sale at midday on Tuesday — and they have been sizzling residence, with the match marketed out in only 58 minutes.
The 27-12 months-outdated retweeted the news of the exhibition promoting out in lightning time with a dig at those who say he is poor for the activity.
“Wow Nick Kyrgios is lousy for the sport! Wow what a shame, a national shame! How dare he offer out yet another stadium, the arrogance,” a sarcastic Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.
Fellow Aussie wonderful Pat Cash even so was not satisfied and enable his anger be regarded about the approaching party.
“What’s rather incredible, it’s really really hard to think, Tennis Australia is placing on an celebration, on centre court docket, for Nick and Djokovic – I really do not know, is Novak gonna enjoy, has he pulled out of it?” Money said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“In what country, in what grand slam – would you have Wimbledon abruptly pulling out centre courtroom or court docket 1 simply because Andy Murray essential a apply match?
“It’s tough to believe that, they undoubtedly would not do it at the French Open. There is young ones working day and regardless of what and you go and enjoy that. At the French Open it wouldn’t take place.
“They’ve bent more than backwards to assist Nick to get some matches and to do this, I do not know.”
