02 December 2023 , 01:06
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Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios conceded an unwanted agreement initially with his media adversary, Piers Morgan, after discussing a resurfaced clip revealing USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe seemingly neglecting a fan. He then switched stance to side with the World Cup star.
Morgan posted a video from the 2019 ESPY Awards, capturing Rapinoe signing a soccer ball for a young fan as she sat in the crowd. Football fans could not help but notice that the footage showed a lack of direct interaction with the boy, who wanted the autograph, notably with the absence of eye contact between Rapinoe and the fan.
On Twitter, Morgan criticized Rapinoe, accusing the USWNT star of displaying "diabolical arrogance" as she turned her head to look in the crowd, signed a mini soccer ball, and then handed the ball back. The criticism stemmed from Rapinoe's lack of effort to exchange words with the child when returning the signed ball.
Morgan wrote: "[Rapinoe] Doesn't even look at him. Diabolical arrogance," on Twitter. Kyrgios responded to the comment laughing, writing in return," "Hahahahahaha one thing me and Piers agree on."
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The pair recently settled their differences during a shocking sit-down interview between Morgan and Kyrgios. The Australian star explained his position regarding the video. He said: "I know that she has got millions of fans worldwide. At this moment, she may have been dealing with things and may [have been] very dismissive."
"I'm not going to sit here and say I have been amazing to every fan I have ever signed a tennis ball for, but every time it is a young kid, I do my best to try and look involved." Kyrgios then explained how he used to be excited when he would get autographed tennis balls signed by his idols as a child, aiming to replicate that feeling for kids who look up to him.
"I don't really like the dismissiveness," said Kyrgios about the video. "But I know I have not been perfect either." The verbal sparring between Kyrgios and Morgan initially heated up when Andy Murray eliminated the Australian tennis player from the fourth round at Wimbledon. At the time, Morgan remarked that Kyrgios fell apart like "a petulant little brat."
Kyrgios and Morgan shocked fans with an unexpected interviewThis exchange would set the origin point for future back-and-forth jabs between the pair on social media. In 2022, Morgan referred to Kyrgios as a 'monumental a**hole' regarding his antics in the corresponding year's Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic. With so much bad blood, fans thought the pair would never sit for a discussion.
Since the 2022 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rapinoe and the USWNT have faced scrutiny beyond Morgan and Kyrgios for their early elimination in the Round of 16 against Sweden. Rapinoe notably missed the fourth penalty kick, a pivotal moment contributing to the defeat.
Despite the gravity of the situation, she appeared to smile and laugh, initially perplexing observers. Later, Rapinoe - who retired from all forms of football last month when she suffered a torn Achilles in the NWSL final, the last game of her career for OL Reign - characterized the moment as a "sick joke," expressing disbelief at being unable to recall the last time she had missed a penalty.