The feud between Nick Kyrgios and Boris Becker is proof of how much things have changed in the sport. Previously, players who won the Grand Slam were never placed at the same level as other players. Nick Kyrgios, with no major title to his name, only 5 ATP titles, has missed out on all competitions this season due to injuries.
Despite that, the Aussie has been arrogant toward Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champ, and has recently said that the tennis legend and coach has become a noise maker in recent times.
What happened between Nick Kyrgios and Boris Becker?
The off-season this year has been different as Boris Becker and Nick Kyrgios have decided to give fans plenty to talk about. The six-time Grand Slam champion has called out Australia’s bad boy, picking up on some of his latest comments comparing Becker’s generation of tennis players to the present day.
It all began when Kyrgios made a subtle dig at Becker in a conversation with The Athletic saying, “The game was so slow back then. I’ve watched Boris Becker and I’m not saying they weren’t good in their time, but to say that they would be just as good now, it’s absurd.”
In response, Becker mentioned Kyrgios on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Nick makes a lot of noise about tennis lately!?! Why does he speak about a sport he hates.”
The German went on to say that Nick Kyrgios has never won a Grand Slam as a player except his single Australian Open doubles title in 2022 with Thanasi Kokkinakis, adding that it was a result of his little credibility in the tennis world.
The former world No 1 signed off with a fiery dig at the Australian, declaring that he should, “Speak to your OnlyFans about many things but tennis.” As expected, Kyrgios responded in true Kyrgios-fashion, with a no-holds-barred tirade against Becker.
“Hahahaha this bloke speaking about credibility… Last I checked you were the one hiding assets no?” he began, before firing off several other remarks against the former player.
“Basically 99 percent of the tennis tour doesn’t have credibility then? Potato. What about your boy Zverev? No credibility? He hasn’t even won a doubles Grand Slam?”
Boris Becker slams Nick Kyrgios over resentments
Boris Becker during an interview with Eurosport said that the past legends of the sport made it possible for Nick Kyrgios to make a living from tennis without playing all year.
“We live in a democracy. Everyone can think what he wants. You have to have respect for the past & simply say ‘thank you’ out loud that these old pros existed because without them the tennis circus would no longer exist,” Holger Rune’s coach said.
“Let me start with Australia. Rod Laver, Ken Roswall, John Newcombe, Ken Roach – the gladiators of the Australian tennis scene. Then I have to mention Patrick Rafter & Lleyton Hewitt. They were all number one, they won Grand Slam tournaments. I go further in the generational question & say: ’70s, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, then Ivan Lendl came along.”
“They popularised the sport, they drew viewers to the television. And that’s because of the legends. I did play a bit in the 80s, but there was Edberg, and Wilander. The 90s were Agassi, Sampras. All these players make it possible for Nick Kyrgios not to play tennis at all this year & still be able to make a living from tennis,” Boris added.
However, Nick Kyrgios has announced that he will not compete at the Australian Open next month, leaving tennis fans with no date for his return even though he has time to hang out with his girlfriend at a nightclub.
