Nick Kyrgios and Boris Becker have engaged in a social media slanging match after the Australian’s pot shot at players of the past.
Earlier this week Kyrgios was scathing of Becker and other pundits of his generation, telling The Athletic:
“Sometimes it’s hard to watch these old heads kind of break down the game all the time for new fans,” Kyrgios said.
“It’s like some of the stuff they say doesn’t make sense. Jim Courier is really good, the way he articulates things, but some of these other people, I’m just like, ‘What are you talking about?’. Like, ‘How do you know?’.”
“The game was so slow back then.
“I’ve watched Boris Becker and I’m not saying they weren’t good in their time, but to say that they would be just as good now, it’s absurd.
“A big serve back then was like 197 to 200 (km/h). People like me, we serve 220 consistently, to corners. It’s a whole different ball game.
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“I’m not saying they wouldn’t have found their way … but serve and volley, to do it all the time now, you need to be serving 220 because if you serve anything less than 220, bro, [Novak] Djokovic eats you alive.
“He eats you alive. Bro, Lleyton Hewitt destroyed Sampras one year at the US Open. That was the first prototype of someone who could return serve.
“He made Sampras look like shit. And what would Djokovic do to someone like Sampras? It would be a cleanup. If Hewitt was doing it, Djokovic would destroy him. He would eat him alive.”
Becker fired back on social media site X and then Kyrgios took the bait.
“Nick makes a lot of noise about tennis lately!?! Why does he speak about a sport he apparently hates,” Becker wrote on Twitter.
“Fact-check Nick has never won a major championship as a player or coach (yes doubles 1) so where is any credibility coming from? Trying to compare generations… Laver v Federer, Borg v Nadal, Sampras v Djokovic!?! I am not even gonna mention McEnroe, Conners, Lendl, Agassi, Courier, Edberg, Wilander, Kuerten, Bruguera, Rafter, Hewitt and many more.
“Speak to your @OnlyFans about many things but tennis.”
Kyrgios responded by referencing Becker’s personal issues – the former champ reportedly blew a fortune in the hundreds of millions before declaring bankruptcy.
He was found guilty of illicitly transferring money and hiding assets after being declared bankrupt and spent eight months in jail.
Responding to Becker’s comment, Kyrgios wrote: “Hahahaha this bloke speaking about credibility…… last I checked you were the one hiding assets no?
“Also I mean I’ve beaten, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray so I feel like I have a little credibility. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Novak would wipe the floor against you in your prime? Like it’s not an attack. It’s just facts.”
(Photo by Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Becker signed off in a conciliatory tone.
“I wish Nick a speedy full recovery and can’t wait to see him back on a tennis court,” Becker wrote.
“He is an exciting player when he is fit! He has got a Grand Slam in his bag but you have to do the talking on the court ….good luck.”
Also this week, Kyrgios, who is out of the Australian Open, told a podcast he would like to quit.
“If it was up to me, I don’t really want to play anymore to be honest,” Kyrgios said.
“I have to, almost (keep playing). I’ve got so much more to give, but for me, I don’t feel like playing anymore.
“I’m exhausted, I’m tired. I have had three surgeries now that, I’m only 28 years old, I always wanted to have a family and not be in pain. When I get up, I can’t walk without pain.
“It’s a tough gig.”