Tennis world mocks Nick Kyrgios after Nadal-Djokovic spray backfires

Just 24 hours after an extraordinary interview in which he labelled Rafael Nadal ‘salty’ and Novak Djokovic ‘cringeworthy’, the tennis world found it very ironic that Nick Kyrgios looked exactly that on Thursday.

Kyrgios was defaulted after he smashed a racquet and threw a chair onto the red clay during a fit of rage during his second-round match at the Italian Open.

The Aussie star was fined, docked the ATP points he’d earned at the tournament, and is now facing the prospect of suspension.

And it all came just hours after an interview with the No Challenges Remaining podcast, where he ripped into Nadal, Djokovic and Fernando Verdasco.

Kyrgios said Djokovic has a “sick obsession with being liked”, slamming the “cringeworthy” way he celebrates victories.

As for Nadal, the Aussie addressed his recent war of words with the Spanish great, who labelled Kyrgios ‘disrespectful’ after a controversial match in Mexico in February.

“He’s super salty,” Kyrgios said.

“When he wins, it’s fine. He won’t say anything bad, he’ll credit the opponent, ‘He was a great player’.

“But as soon as I beat him, it’s just like, ‘He has no respect for me, my fans and no respect to the game.'”

Well, Kyrgios appeared to vindicate that claim on Thursday, while coming across as the ‘salty’ and ‘cringeworthy’ one.

Fans didn’t miss the irony.

Crazy scenes

Kyrgios was trailing 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 1-2 at the time of his tantrum, frustrated at losing a point on serve, received a warning for ball abuse.

He then took exception to some movement in the stands during a rally and made his feelings known to the crowd and was docked a point for unsportsmanlike conduct and then penalised the game for the same offence.

Furious at the decision, Kyrgios booted a water bottle and then stunned spectators by picking up a fold-up wooden chair and hurling it across the court.

“I’m f***ing done,” he could be heard saying.

The tournament referee then came out onto court and defaulted the Aussie, who picked up his bag and stormed off, although he did shake hands with Ruud and the chair umpire.

“Very eventful day to say the least,” Kyrgios wrote on Instagram later.

“Emotions got the better of me and I just wanted to say that the atmosphere was crazy out there today, just super unfortunate that it had to end in a default. Sorry Roma, see you again, maybe.”

The match was subsequently awarded to the world No.76, who’ll now face Juan Martin del Potro for a place in the quarter-finals.

with AAP