The tennis world is no stranger to controversy, and the latest drama involves none other than Nick Kyrgios and Andy Roddick.
The American tennis legend has had enough of Kyrgios’ outspoken commentary, and he’s not holding back.
What Happened?
It all started when 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt, son of Lleyton Hewitt, posted a photo with Jannik Sinner on Instagram after a training session.
Kyrgios, who has been a vocal critic of Sinner since his failed doping tests, took aim at the young player, commenting “Love ya Cruz but this is wild” and “Cooked post” with a needle emoji. He also wrote “Thought we were boys” with several broken heart emojis.
Roddick Sounds Off
Andy Roddick, a former world No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion, couldn’t help but weigh in on the situation. On his podcast, Roddick obliterated Kyrgios, calling him a hypocrite and a “tennis influencer” who lives for likes and comments.
Roddick argued that Kyrgios has no right to judge others, particularly a 16-year-old, when he has his own issues to deal with.
Hypocrisy at Its Finest
Roddick pointed out that Kyrgios has been one of Sinner’s most outspoken critics, yet he has his own history of questionable behavior.
In 2023, Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari in 2021. Roddick questioned how Kyrgios can expect people to understand the context of his comments when he hasn’t taken responsibility for his own actions.
The Tennis World Reacts
The backlash against Kyrgios was swift, with many in the tennis community calling out his behavior as unacceptable. Tennis reporter Bastien Fachan tweeted that Kyrgios’ comments were “way over the line” and constituted “harassment.” Leading tennis commentator Jose Morgado simply responded with “Jesus Christ.”
Kyrgios Tries to Explain
In response to the criticism, Kyrgios tried to downplay his comments, saying they were just a joke. However, Roddick wasn’t buying it, and the tennis world remains skeptical.
Australian Open Update
As the drama unfolded, Kyrgios announced his withdrawal from the “A Night with Novak” event due to an abdominal strain. While his Australian Open comeback is still in doubt, tournament boss Craig Tiley remains confident that Kyrgios will participate.
The tennis world will undoubtedly be watching this saga unfold, and one thing is for sure – Nick Kyrgios will continue to be a lightning rod for controversy. Stay tuned!