Nick Kyrgios sparks outrage with 'disgusting' comment about Jannik Sinner dating his ex Anna Kalinskaya
Nick Kyrgios has been slammed for making a "disgusting" comment about his former partner Anna Kalinskaya.
Australian tennis star Kyrgios, 29, was in a relationship with Kalinskaya, 25, before the pair split up in 2020.
Russia's Kalinskaya is now is now dating men's world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who will face Taylor Fritz in the final of the US Open on Sunday.
And Kyrgios has caused controversy ahead of that match with a post on social media.
Advert
Responding to a picture of himself and Kalinskaya posing at an NBA game while they were still dating, Kyrgios posted the phrase: "Second serve."
Many tennis fans have interpreted the post as a swipe at Kalinskaya and Sinner's relationship.
Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of Sinner after the Italian's doping violation was made public last month.
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.
Kyrgios has since defended his comment, posting 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 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."
It is not the first time Kyrgios has been involved in controversy with a women's tennis player.
Kyrgios previously made an offensive comment about Donna Vekic in the middle of a match against her partner Stanislas Wawrinka in 2015.
Kyrgios infamously said "Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend" - referring to his doubles partner at the time, Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Kyrgios' latest comment could land him in hot water with ESPN, who he is working for in a commentary role at the US Open.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg wrote: "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."
A Sinner fan account on X added: "Disgusting, Kyrgios continues to show his true nature. Well done ESPN."
While another fan wrote: "His tennis career is over and he has no respect for the players or the game. Get rid of him."
Topics: Tennis, US Open, Nick Kyrgios, Fan Reactions
Rory O'Callaghan