Nick Kyrgios has turned a blowtorch on tennis great Boris Becker as a feud erupted on Thursday morning.
The Australian has taken a swipe at the German after beginning a storm with explosive claims about tennis champions that have come before him.
Just days after the 28-year-old left fans concerned he will never play at an elite level again, Kyrgios and Becker have traded blows.
Kyrgios has not taken a backwards step since sparking outrage with comments suggesting Novak Djokovic and other players of the current era would “destroy” the likes of 14-time grand slam legend Pete Sampras.
Having also singled out six-time grand slam champion Becker, Kyrgios has sparked heated debate on social media.
“The game was so slow back then,” Kyrgios said in an interview with The Athletic.
“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.
“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, Djokovic eats you alive. He eats you alive. Bro Lleyton Hewitt destroyed Sampras one year at the U.S. Open.
“That was the first prototype of someone who could return serve. He made Sampras look like sh**. And what would Djokovic do to someone like Sampras? It would be a clean-up. If Hewitt was doing it, Djokovic would destroy him. He would eat him alive.”
The comments have hit a sore spot with many sections of the tennis world — and Becker responded on Thursday morning, telling Kyrgios to save his comments for his newly launched OnlyFans subscription page.
“Nick makes a lot of noise about tennis lately!?! Why does he speak about a sport he apparently hates,” Becker posted 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 with a backhand, attacking Becker’s personal life.
Becker, who won Wimbledon in 1985 at the age of 17, served jail time in two different prison facilities in the UK.
Becker blew an estimated fortune of $185 million before declaring bankruptcy.
He broke down in tears last year after being found guilty of illicitly transferring large sums of money and hiding assets after being declared bankrupt.
He was released from jail in December after serving eight months of his 30-month term. He says he received several death threats while serving his sentence.
Responding to Becker’s comment on Twitter, 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.”
The exchange blew up on social media and Kyrgios was left responding to fans who didn’t like that he had to say.
“Bro if you put Lebron in an older era the dude averages about 50 points a game,” Kyrgios responded to one fan.
“Athletes are just better now. That’s now is goes unfortunately. I’m not gonna sit here in 30 years time and act as if I would be able to compete with the new kids on the block.”
Becker had one final thing to say: “I wish Nick a speedy full recovery and can’t wait to see him back on a tennis court,” Becker posted.
“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.”
There are fears Kyrgios may never return to the level of tennis that saw him win through to the 2022 Wimbledon final.
“If it was up to me, I don’t really want to play anymore to be honest,” Kyrgios told the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast on Tuesday.
“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.”
Kyrgios has played only one match in 2023 due to injury and has dropped off the ATP rankings list as a result.
However he maintains a protected ranking of 21 which will allow him to immediately return to the top events on the ATP Tour if he finally manages to get his body right.
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