Nick Kyrgios is yet to take the court in the Australian tennis summer but he continues to make waves nonetheless after slamming Pat Rafter as “clueless” on Twitter.
Kyrgios was responding to Rafter’s comments on Wide World of Sports’ Australian Open: The Happy Slam podcast, on which he described the Kyrgios/Thanasi Kokkinakis doubles pairing as a “circus.”
“It’s an interesting one that is, because the players are really upset about it,” Rafter said.
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“I don’t know how that operates with them and doesn’t really bother me either way.
“It’s a bit of a circus… doubles is a great event, it’s a lot of fun, and it helps you with singles, but it’s not where it’s at. But at the same time, it’s entertainment.”
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis defeated compatriots Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell in a memorable Australian Open doubles final last year, with the ‘Special Ks’ attracting a younger and more raucous fanbase than tennis is used to.
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“If they create drama, create ticket sales, and they create people watching, then good on them, but at what expense, I don’t know,” Rafter said.
“The players are really upset. Are you supposed to understand the underwritten rule that that’s not how you behave when you do?”
Kyrgios returned serve strongly on Twitter.
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