Nick Kyrgios is claiming he and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis were threatened with violence following their win over number one seeds Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić at the Australian Open on Friday.
Kyrgios tweeted this morning a claim that a coach and trainer associated with the Croatians made a threat of violence after the match.
“Just letting you know after yesterday’s chop fest in doubles my opponents coach and trainer proceeded to threaten to fight in the players gym,” Kyrgios wrote.
“Tennis is a soft soft sport all because I moved and hit them with a tennis ball.”
Just letting you know after yesterday’s chop fest in doubles my opponents coach and trainer proceeded to threaten to fight in the players gym 🥱🥶 tennis is a soft soft sport @TKokkinakis all because I moved and hit them with a tennis ball 😂😂
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 21, 2022
Kokkinakis likened the scene to a UFC bout.
“That was crazy!! Mans (sic) thought it was @ufc,” Kokkinakis tweeted.
😂😂 that was crazy!! Mans thought it was @ufc https://t.co/TCYCRCj3E5
— Thanasi Kokkinakis (@TKokkinakis) January 21, 2022
According to the ABC when Pavić and Mektić spoke to the media after Friday’s match, they expressed their disgust with the crowd’s “loud” behaviour.
Things got HEATED in the locker room after Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis' doubles win 😳 Grothy got the inside word 🌶️#AusOpen – Live on Channel 9 and 9Now pic.twitter.com/iD26iHnUW1
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 21, 2022
The ABC says Pavić also referred to Daniil Medvedev’s comments about spectators making noise during his singles win over Kyrgios on Thursday night, when the Russian suggested they “probably have a low IQ”.
“Obviously they cheer for Aussies,” Pavić said.
“It wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect to all opponents, to other players” he said.
Mektić and Pavić won the men’s doubles title at Wimbledon last year and also claimed the gold medal in the event at the Tokyo Olympics.
