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While everyone was engrossed in the men’s singles final Nick Kyrgios fired off an Instagram story at the conclusion of the Rafael Nadal-Daniil Medvedev epic five-hour match in which he slammed the media and one of the doubles opponents he and Thanasi Kokkinakis defeated.
Kyrgios first took aim at how his comments about the doubles final were perceived which he said were taken out of context.
“I would say that we’ve created probably the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen,” Kyrgios said.
“Ash (Barty’s) father came to us and said the crowd was the best he’s ever seen. Obviously Ash is a hell of a player, but I think the ratings speak for themselves.
“The ratings speak for themselves. People watch my matches, everywhere I play around the world the stadiums are full for that reason.
Kyrgios felt the need to defend himself on social media with how the comments were portrayed.
‘F*** you media. Honestly, I said nothing disrespectful to Ash Barty,” he said.
“I said that the crowd this year was amazing and I feel as if Kokkinakis and I were a big part of that. Ash’s father came to me and even said that. All I said was that when people watch me around the world the stadiums are full. I grew up with Ash and always knew her potential.”
But Kyrgios saved his biggest serve for doubles opponent Max Purcell.
Purcell said that while Kyrgios and Kokkinakis were great for ticket sales in Australia he wondered about the effect their antics had on the tennis world.
“I’m not sure how it was taken overseas. If you’re watching some of Nick and Thanasi’s matches earlier in the week and you’re overseas, maybe you get turned off tennis a little bit.”
While that match was going on, Nick Kyrgios took to Instagram to clarify his comments about Ash Barty AND label Max Purcell a donut ????
Says people would rather “watch paint dry” than Purcell’s serve and volley style. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/RshAuRokkF
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) January 30, 2022
Those comments appeared to incense Kyrgios.
“You donut,” Kyrgios said.
“You clearly have no idea about entertainment and sport. If you haven’t noticed there is a reason why people actually come to my matches. It’s because the level and my game are actually worth watching.”
“Next time you lose another slam final, you should just put your head down and try to figure out how to play the big points better. No need to slate other Aussies in the media because people would rather watch paint dry than your S&V (serve and volley) game style.”
The extraordinary comments come after Kyrgios already ruled himself out of playing doubles at the French Open and Wimbledon. The Kyrgios-Kokkinakis pairing is unlikely to be a thing again until the US Open.
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