Australian Open: Kyrgios/Kokkinakis - threat of flogging after the match?
Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis surprised the men's doubles competition with their success over Mate Pavic and NIkola Mektic. But was there an ugly aftermath?
by SID/red
last edit: Jan 22, 2022, 07:49 am
Nick Kyrgios has claimed he was threatened with a beating by an opponent's coach after his much-celebrated doubles win with Thanasi Kokkinakis. The pugnacious Australian and his partner defeated the world leaders Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic from Croatia 7: 6 (10: 8), 6: 3 in front of a loud audience in the second round of the Australian Open on Friday.
Then it came to the unsightly scenes in the fitness area. "Tennis is a soft, soft sport," Kyrgios wrote to Kokkinakis on Twitter: "Just because I moved and hit her with a tennis ball." Kokkinakis replied - apparently not quite serious - he thought he was in Ultimate Fighting.
Single out against Medvedev
Kyrgios polarized at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year with his extrovert performances, where he always goaded the audience. In the singles he failed in the second round at the Russian title favorite Daniil Medvedev in four contested sets.
Kyrgios' partner Thanasi Kokkinakis also had to give up in singles after celebrating his first career title on the ATP tour in the run-up to the Australian Open.