Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has launched a blistering verbal attack on former British number one Greg Rusedski, after the pundit suggested he should not receive a wildcard entry for the upcoming Australian Open.
The Wildcard Debate Ignites
The controversy erupted after Rusedski, speaking on the Off-Court podcast, cast doubt on Kyrgios's readiness for Grand Slam tennis. Kyrgios, currently ranked 671st in the world, is preparing for his first professional match since March at the Brisbane International, following a lengthy injury layoff. Rusedski argued that the 30-year-old would need to produce "phenomenal results" in Brisbane to justify a wildcard, citing concerns over his physical shape and the need to give opportunities to younger Australian players.
"He doesn't look in the right shape to play," Rusedski stated. "From [the Battle of the Sexes] performance and what he looked like physically, I wouldn't do it ... he doesn't look in good enough shape to play three out of five sets." He did, however, acknowledge Kyrgios's box-office appeal, noting he "brings people into stadiums."
Kyrgios's Vicious Retort
Never one to shy away from a confrontation, Kyrgios responded with characteristic ferocity. In an interview with 9News, he immediately sought to discredit Rusedski by referencing the pundit's past. "I'm pretty sure Greg got done for performance-enhancing drugs one time in his career, so I wouldn't take too much advice from someone like that," Kyrgios fired back.
He was alluding to Rusedski's 2004 positive test for the steroid nandrolone, for which the former player was cleared after a tribunal ruled he had taken the substance inadvertently via pills supplied by ATP trainers. Kyrgios also questioned Rusedski's drawing power, adding, "Remind me when the last time he sold out one of his matches."
A Conscience About the Wildcard
Despite his fierce defence, Kyrgios later showed a more reflective side regarding the wildcard dilemma. Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference for the Brisbane International, he recalled how compatriot John Millman had given up a wildcard for him at the French Open when injured, an act Kyrgios said kick-started a transformative phase in his career.
He conceded that he would only accept a wildcard for Melbourne if he felt fully capable of delivering a performance worthy of fans' investment. "If I can't give them the Kyrgios experience I would genuinely rather give it to someone that earned the wildcard and is in tip-top shape to start off something special in their career," Kyrgios stated, demonstrating a sense of responsibility amidst the furore.
The war of words sets the stage for Kyrgios's highly-anticipated return to competitive action in Brisbane, where his performances will now be scrutinised even more closely in the context of this very public spat.
