Australian Open champion Nick Kyrgios has unleashed an angry Instagram tirade on the media and beaten doubles finalist Max Purcell.
While Rafael Nadal was clawing his way to a record 21st Grand Slam last night, Aussie firebrand Kyrgios was lashing the press for what he saw as a misrepresentation of his comments towards world No.1 Ash Barty.
After his doubles success, Kyrgios boasted that he and Thanasi Kokkinakis had “created probably the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen” and claimed that Barty’s father had told him that “the crowd was the best he’s ever seen.”
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“Obviously Ash is a hell of a player, but I think the ratings speak for themselves,” Kyrgios concluded after the final.
But after watching the way in which those comments were interpreted, Kyrgios took to social media.
“F… you media,” Kyrgios wrote on Instagram.
“Honestly, I said nothing disrespectful to @ashbarty I said that the crowd this year was amazing and I feel as if @the-kokk1 & I were a big part of that.
“Ash’s father came to me and even said that. All I said was that when people watch me around the world the stadiums are full.
“I grew up with Ash & always knew her potential.”
Kyrgios was also irked by Purcell’s opinion that the ‘Special K’ spectacle had potentially been a “turn off” for overseas tennis fans.
“As for @maxpurcell you donut, regarding your comments after the match, you clearly have no idea about entertainment and sport,” he wrote.
“If you haven’t noticed there is a reason why people actually come to my matches. It’s because the level & my game are actually worth watching.
“Next time you lose another slam final, you should just put your head down and try to figure out how to play the big points better.
“No need to slate other Aussies in the media cuz people would rather watch paint dry than your S&V (serve and volley) game style.”
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