Nick Kyrgios' tennis feud with Boris Becker turns nasty after jail jibe
Nick Kyrgios has told Boris Becker to "try to not hide any more assets" - as the row between the two tennis superstars intensifies.
Becker angered Kyrgios by claiming the legacy of ex-players, such as himself, have paved the way for the Australian "not to play tennis at all this year and still be able to make a living from tennis". Kyrgios has missed much of 2023 through injury.
The 28-year-old couldn't believe Becker's claim and hit back by referencing the six-time Grand Slam winner's conviction. In April 2022, Becker was jailed in the UK for hiding assets and loans to avoid paying debts. He was released in December 2022.
The row started when Kyrgios said professional tennis was slower during Becker's heyday, insisting it would be "absurd" to suggest the German would be just as successful today. Becker wasn't impressed by Kyrgios and told him to "respect the past".
Speaking to Eurosport, Becker added: "They (ex-players) popularised the sport, they drew viewers to the television. You can see the result today. There has never been so much prize money, there has never been so much publicity as there is today.
Novak Djokovic won Australian Open despite playing with major hamstring tear
"And that's because of the legends... there was (Stefan) Edberg, (Mats) Wilander. The 90s were (Andre) Agassi, (Pete) Sampras. All these players make it possible for Nick Kyrgios not to play tennis at all this year and still be able to make a living from tennis."
Kyrgios, who is yet to win his maiden Grand Slam title, noticed Becker's comments on X and posted: "What? I’ve been arguably one of the most watched players outside the big three (Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer) the last decade?
"Fans around the world and have brought so many more people to the sport. I’ve created my own stuff off the court. Try to not hide any more assets."
Boris Becker has told Kyrgios to "respect the past" (Tristar Media/Getty Images)What's your thoughts on the row between Nick Kyrgios and Boris Becker? Let us know in the comments below!
Kyrgios then saw a similar quote from Becker and claimed he's been "one of the few players that have brought (a) million more fans to the sport and have made money for everyone". He then referenced Netflix's popular tennis documentary 'Point Break' and said "don't remember seeing Boris on there" before calling the 56-year-old "ridiculous".
Although Kyrgios hasn't won a Grand Slam - losing to Novak Djokovic in last year's Wimbledon final - he is one of the most popular and talked about tennis players. He boasts 4.2million followers on Instagram - more than Andy Murray (2million).
Kyrgios continued to debate the topic with fans before summing up: "Not once have I taken 'slams' away from Becker or any of these legends. Not once have I said I’ve impacted the game MORE. I’ve simply said that I’ve built my own brand and done it my way and brought fans. Apparently a slam finalist has no credibility. Night, done with this convo."
Becker hasn't responded to Kyrgios' latest post but wished him a speedy recovery from injury last week. He will not compete in next month's Australian Open due to a lingering wrist issue. It will be the fourth consecutive Grand Slam he's missed.
Becker wrote on X: "I wish Nick a speedy full recovery and can’t wait to see him back on a tennis court! 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!"
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
