Nick Kyrgios destroys Bernard Tomic as war-of-words turns ugly
The ongoing feud between Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic has inexplicably heated up once again on social media, with the pair going at over the past few days.
All it took was one fan suggesting to Kyrgios that Tomic was the superior player of the two to kick of days of barbs being thrown at one another.
OUCH: Andy Murray's truth bomb for Naomi Osaka amid Wimbledon row
WOW: Fans erupt over detail in Novak Djokovic victory at French Open
Kyrgios was clearly irritated by the suggestion Tomic was better, telling the fan in question that he had 'a higher career high (ranking). More money, more wins.'
“It’s time for BT to just quiet down. He ain’t even playing anymore. I got years left," Kyrgios added.
It's far from the first time the pair have exchanged insults online, with Kyrgios left baffled late last year when Tomic made a point of bringing up their head to head record in an interview where he was otherwise offering a fairly honest reflection of the ups and downs of his career.
Back in April, Kyrgios said he was 'insulted' by the comparison to Tomic.
On Wednesday night, Tomic re-ignited the feud by suggesting the only reason Kyrgios got so annoyed by the comparisons was that he secretly looked up to him.
“The only logical explanation is that I’m his idol,” Tomic said.
“He’s always been in my shadow growing up.
“That’s why anytime someone mentions my name to him, it gets under his skin.
“He knows he can’t re-write history. The records that I set when I was 16, 17, 18, and 19 — youngest slam quarter-finalist at Wimbledon, the biggest tournament in the world."
Tomic, currently ranked No.418 in the world, wasted no time in doubling down on his bold claims either.
“He knows he can’t change that, he can’t re-write that and he would love to shut me up if he could, he knows he can’t," Tomic said.
“He knows my style dominates his and he knows he will lose.”
Nick Kyrgios laughs off Bernard Tomic jibes as feud re-ignites
For his part, Kyrgios mostly seemed amused by Tomic's attempts to bait him.
Still somewhat at a loss as to why Tomic was so determined to knock him down, Kyrgios again pointed out that he had helped out Tomic on numerous occasions.
“HAHA TOMIC let’s not forget the time I paid for your flight home from Shanghai because you had no money,” Kyrgios wrote.
“Hahahaha re-write history, you are the most HATED athlete in Australia.
“You are right, no one can take over that.”
Just to rub a bit more salt in the wound, Kyrgios then shared a screenshot of some of Tomic's recent results on the ATP Challenger circuit - none of which were particularly inspirational.
“Bernard, I didn’t realise it was this bad. I low key feel bad now," Kyrgios added.
“Hit me up if you need me to help you remember how to play. Geezus.”
Kyrgios was left stunned in December last year when Tomic first made the comparison between the pair.
At the time, he said he felt as though he had tried to be supportive of Tomic when they first arrived on the tour scene.
“I’m probably one of the only people in tennis in Australia that’s stood up for him multiple times,” Kyrgios told the Sydney Morning Herald in December last year.
“I’ve done things for him, my family, my brother’s done things for him.”
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.