The half Greek, half Malaysian Nick Kyrgios of Australia has been touted for some time now as the future of Australian tennis and a potential grand slam winner. The 20 year old has had some big victories but he's quickly developing a reputation as the bad boy of tennis. At Wimbledon this year he yelled an obscenity on court, argued repeatedly with an umpire, threw his racket 10ft into the air, and in the view of many deliberately tanked a match - at Wimbledon of all places.
But now he's done something to upset another player...and it is below the belt. During a match with Stan Wawrinka he said to the Swiss "Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that mate". Kokkinakis is another player. Wawrinka's girlfriend, Croatian player Donna Vekic, has been Kokkinakis' mixed doubles partner.
Wawrinka confronted him in the locker room about it then spoke to the media accusing Kyrgios of stooping low and of mistreating everyone, including the ball kids. Wawrinka also called on the ATP to punish him or risk the sport losing its civility.
Kyrgios is not only important because of his potential but also because he's a poster boy for the new multicultural Australia. (I can't imagine Rod Laver behaving like Kyrgios, though its cricketers are another matter). The British media in particular (possibly with an eye on their sporting rivalry with 'old' Australians) emphasise Australia relying on its new multicultural denizens for its tennis talent.
Not your grandfather's Australia
But now he's done something to upset another player...and it is below the belt. During a match with Stan Wawrinka he said to the Swiss "Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that mate". Kokkinakis is another player. Wawrinka's girlfriend, Croatian player Donna Vekic, has been Kokkinakis' mixed doubles partner.
Wawrinka confronted him in the locker room about it then spoke to the media accusing Kyrgios of stooping low and of mistreating everyone, including the ball kids. Wawrinka also called on the ATP to punish him or risk the sport losing its civility.
Kyrgios is not only important because of his potential but also because he's a poster boy for the new multicultural Australia. (I can't imagine Rod Laver behaving like Kyrgios, though its cricketers are another matter). The British media in particular (possibly with an eye on their sporting rivalry with 'old' Australians) emphasise Australia relying on its new multicultural denizens for its tennis talent.
Not your grandfather's Australia