In the words of Michael Venus, Nick Kyrgios is a “knob” with the maturity of a “10-year-old.”
The doubles opponent branded Kyrgios “an absolute knob” for his on-court antics, and the New Zealander has a point.
With their high-octane performances in the Australian Open men’s doubles, the Australian and his partner Thanasi Kokkinakis have been making headlines at Melbourne Park this week.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have had a lot of support from the home audience.
Nick Kyrgios. Photo/Eurosport
Many believe that the duo – particularly Kyrgios – frequently goes over the top with their behaviour.
However, Venus – who along with Tim Putz was defeated by the trio in three sets on Tuesday – spoke out.
The New Zealander said that he felt the whole match out there was a big circus and not a real tennis match.
He told New Zealand’s publication 1News that “Between serves, [they were] geeing the crowd up and getting them to cheer at times like that. I don‘t think that’s really on.”
Venus said that if it was the same energy from fans to Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, the Australian “would have flipped his lid.”
Kyrgios, since the start of the Australian Open, has had a lot of controversies. Kyrgios unintentionally struck an unsuspecting child fan in the audience.
In the fourth game of the first set, Kyrgios became enraged after the chair umpire missed a call on a Kokkinakis serve. He smashed the ball into the ground, causing the chair umpire to overturn his decision.
The unfortunate thing is that it was hit so forcefully that it bounced into the stands and struck a little fan, resulting in the youngster crying.
The Australian quickly apologized and then presented the youngster with one of his tennis rackets as a gesture of goodwill.
The youngster was given one of the Australian’s rackets, much to the pleasure of the home crowd. Although Fin Crane was gravely hurt in the incident, the nine-year-old was gracious in his acceptance of the gift and was all smiles thereafter.
This gesture did not please Venus at all.
“It‘s amazing, he can smash a ball out that hits a kid and just ’cause he gives them a racket afterwards people can say he’s such a good guy,” Venus aired his displeasure.
It is at this point that Venus went ballistic on 26-year-old Kyrgios saying on maturity, the Australian has proven he is yet to get there.
“His maturity level, it‘s probably being generous to about a 10-year-old, it’s at about that level.
Nick Kyrgios. Photo/Sky Sport
Venus added that the crowd’s behaviour was embarrassing but he understands that they will always support their countryman.
“They’ll always be his supporters and he’ll spin it in a way that helps him but at the end of the day he’s an absolute knob.”
Just before the Australian Open started, his presence remained in Limbo after testing positive for COVID-19.
He withdrew from the Sydney Tennis Classic at the last moment after the positive COVID test.
The 26-year-old moments later posted on social media that he had received a positive COVID test result.
Kyrgios was also unable to compete in the Melbourne Summer Set due to asthma symptoms.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login