Nick Kyrgios has spoken out to explain his controversial post about former partner Anna Kalinskaya amid calls for the Australian tennis star to be sacked by ESPN.
No stranger to controversy, Kyrgios created negative headlines yet again on Saturday after posting a comment about his ex, who he split up with in 2020.
Women's world no 15 Kalinskaya is now dating men's No 1 Jannik Sinner, who will face American star Taylor Fritz in the final of the US Open on Sunday.
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Kyrgios has caused controversy ahead of that match after seemingly mocking Kalinskaya and Sinner's relationship on social media.
Replying to a picture of himself and Kalinskaya posing for the camera from when they were still together, Kyrgios posted the comment: "Second serve."
Some tennis fans have accused Kyrgios of taking a misogynistic swipe at Kalinskaya over her relationship with Sinner.
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That has in turn led to calls for Kyrgios, who is working on commentary and punditry duties for ESPN at the US Open, to be sacked from his role.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg posted on X: "Honestly a bit surprised to see ESPN didn't yank Nick Kyrgios off air mid-#USOpen final, seeing his most recent disparaging tweet about a WTA player circulating.
"Given his history of demeaning women, women's tennis, and WTA players, it was already a dubious choice to have him."
"Disgusting, Kyrgios continues to show his true nature. Well done ESPN," a Sinner fan account posted on X.
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While another fan wrote: "His tennis career is over and he has no respect for the players or the game. Get rid of him."
Kyrgios has responded to that criticism with a series of defiant posts on X.
"Right… so I'm the one that's the bad guy for saying something about it? I never brought it up lol. Don't take offence if people are gonna bring it up. Simple," he replied.
Kyrgios later added: "Abusive? What's abusive about what I said? I had no intention to say anything about it. People wanna go there deal with the consequences."
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When another X user questioned Kyrgios' suitability to work for ESPN, he responded: "Yep, one of handful of players that have beaten all the greatest players - and I enjoy watching and breaking down the WTA tour as well, excited for the final."
He then posted a series of sleeping-face emojis alongside clips of himself smiling and bowing.
Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of Sinner after the Italian's doping violation was made public last month.
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Sinner twice tested positive for an anabolic steroid clostebol in March, but the International Tennis Agency accepted his case that he did not willingly take the substance – clearing him to compete at the US Open.
"Ridiculous - whether it was accidental or planned," Kygrios posted on X last month.
SPORTbible has contacted ESPN for comment.
Topics: Tennis, US Open, Nick Kyrgios, ESPN
Rory O'Callaghan