- Aussie in disbelief at X post on We Are Tennis page
- Accused of ‘showing no mercy on court’ with a kid
Bemused Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios has lashed out after he was accused on social media of ‘showing no mercy’ while he treated a young fan to a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the court.
Kyrgios, 29, is preparing to play in the Miami Open, and gave one starry-eyed kid a moment he won’t forget in a hurry.
The youngster was invited to have a hit with Kyrgios, with vision on social media showing the pair engaging in a few light rallies.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist can later be seen hitting a hard forehand winner as well as a trademark booming serve.
And it appears in the eyes of some, he was clearly too ruthless.
‘Nick Kyrgios has no mercy for kids!,’ was posted on the We Are Tennis page on X.
Nick Kyrgios didn’t see the funny side of We Are Tennis’ tweet ahead of the Miami Open
Kyrgios shared a reaction from one of the boy’s parents, who said they are ‘forever grateful’ for the star having a hit with their son
Kyrgios didn’t see the funny side, sharing the post before adding: ‘Insane caption.
‘Literally told the fan to come on over the fence – experience playing with a pro and [then] gave him a racket. Can’t win at this point.’
The polarising star had plenty of supporters online.
‘Good on you mate. Anyone that has been to tennis in person knows you give more time to kids than almost anyone else,’ one posted.
‘It would have been an honour for that kid to hit with you,’ said another.
But a third pointed out the post from We Are Tennis had an accompanying laughing and love heart emojis, suggesting the caption was tongue in cheek.
Kyrgios also posted a reaction to the clip on Instagram, with a caption that appears to be from one of the boy’s parents reading: ‘So nice this is my son [three love heart emojis] you made the tome [sic] of his life today I am forever grateful god bless.’
It comes as Kyrgios prepares for a first round match in Miami against local hope Mackenzie McDonald.
Meanwhile, the tennis world has descended into civil war as a group of players and the union founded by Novak Djokovic launched a lawsuit against the sport’s governing bodies for running a ‘corrupt, abusive and illegal system’.
The case is wide-ranging, but focuses on player earnings and the punishing tour schedule – and Kyrgios’s name is attached to the legal action.
The PTPA (Professional Tennis Players’ Association), founded in 2020 by Djokovic and former Wimbledon doubles champion Vasek Pospisil, are the key plaintiffs along with a group of players, including Kyrgios.
It comes as Kyrgios prepares for a first round match at the Miami Open against local hope Mackenzie McDonald
Kyrgios (pictured with girlfriend Costeen Hatzi) turns 30 in April, and due to his injuries his time on the ATP circuit could be drawing to a close
The defendants are the ATP and WTA tours, global body the ITF and anti-corruption and doping body the ITIA – but the Grand Slams including Wimbledon are listed as ‘co-conspirators.’
‘Tennis is broken,’ Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA, said.
‘Behind the glamorous veneer that the defendants promote, players are trapped in an unfair system that exploits their talent, suppresses their earnings and jeopardises their health and safety.
‘We have exhausted all options for reform through dialogue, and the governing bodies have left us no choice but to seek accountability through the courts.
‘Fixing these systemic failures isn’t about disrupting tennis – it is about saving it for the generations of players and fans to come.’
