Nick Kyrgios has responded to critics after a firestorm erupted over his choice to drag out of the United Cup.
Kyrgios pulled out of the combined groups occasion on the eve of the inaugural match, to be held in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
Australian co-captain Sam Stosur stated she came upon about Kyrgios’ withdrawal simply 10 minutes earlier than the official pre-tournament press convention. Aussie gamers, together with Alex de Minaur, stated that they had not been instructed why Kyrgios had chosen to skip the occasion.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley stated on Thursday Kyrgios was taking a “precautionary approach to protect his ankle” and he’ll relaxation up till the Australian Open begins on January 16.
Kyrgios’ withdrawal was met with dry scorn from a few of his ATP Tour rivals, together with Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“It is not a surprise, I hope he enjoys his holidays,” Tsitsipas, the primary expertise on the eight-player Greek facet in Perth, stated.
The pair have had a fractious relationship which got here to a head at Wimbledon this yr when Tsitsipas stated his Australian opponent had an “evil side”, after a bad-tempered third-round match.
Kyrgios bit again on Thursday saying he does extra for the game as a promoter.
“Haha so after all this, all the media, journalism saying how bad I am for the sport, disrespecting the game (and) just a pure villain, I am going to be the number one episode on Netflix… to grow our fan base, basically trying to put tennis on the map again,” he tweeted.
Kyrgios was as a result of entrance the press convention at Sydney Olympic Park, however these gathered had been knowledgeable of his withdrawal the day earlier than the occasion was set to get underway.
Despite swirling strategies Kyrgios had merely snubbed the occasion, Aussie nice Wally Masur stated on Thursday Kyrgios’ damage administration was a really authentic excuse.
“I’ve been talking to some of the players and he has been struggling with injuries,” Masur stated on RSN.
“He’s played a few exhibitions over in the Middle East and a few of the players had concerns.
“I guess he practised the day prior and came to the conclusion that the ankle wasn’t right.”
Tsitsipas’ response to the news on Wednesday was considerably totally different.
“It is not a surprise, I hope he enjoys his holidays,” Tsitsipas stated in Perth.
The pair have had a fractious relationship which got here to a head at Wimbledon this yr when Tsitsipas stated his Australian opponent had an “evil side”, after a bad-tempered third-round match.
Despite shedding their primary participant, Stosur remained assured the Aussies might reign supreme on the occasion.
“We have got amazing players on this team,” Stosur stated. “Alex (de Minaur) is one of the best players in the world, Koobs (Kubler) has had an incredible year this year as well qualifying for a couple of slams so as far as the men’s team goes, we are in very capable hands still so I am not concerned that our chances are just diminished greatly or anything like that. We are out here to do everything we can possible to try and win this competition. It is not going to be easy, there are many great players here but we are ready to go and we are going to give it everything we’ve got.”
De Minaur wasn’t impressed when requested for his tackle Kyrgios’ withdrawal, biting again at questions within the hope the main focus could be on the staff taking the courtroom.
“You know I think it would be great if we just talk about this great team, we are all here, we are all happy to be here, we are about to play an exciting new event, something new for all of us, The United Cup,” he stated.
“Let’s talk about that, it is exciting. Everyone here is excited to play so we are just going to have fun, it is a great team around us and we are just happy to be here.”
The Australian Open is because of get underway on January 16.
