Aussie tennis firebrand Nick Kyrgios has taken aim at those criticising a Roland-Garros doubles disqualification decision.
Women’s doubles partners Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi were defaulted by tournament referees when Kato whacked a ball that accidentally then hit a ball girl in the neck.
But it was their opponents, Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, who wore the brunt of public disdain following the controversy.
READ MORE: ‘Brave’ Russian player booed for ‘respectful’ act
READ MORE: Savage Roosters dismissal a ‘slap in the face’
READ MORE: ‘Awakening’: Uncomfortable Clarkson question looms
Bouzkova and Tormo were accused of bad sportsmanship for pushing the chair umpire to default their opponents following the incident.
Kyrgios – who withdrew from Roland-Garros due to injury and has not played a tournament yet this year – was watching the furore unfold from afar.
He took to Twitter to criticise those who had called out Bouzkova and Tormo for asking for a default.
“All around the world, whether it be people chanting your name, idolising you, getting booed at, it’s always going to be a factor in sport,” Kyrgios said.
“Why are we having so many people complain about it?
Watch Roland-Garros 2023 live and free on 9now.
“Also, it’s not about the intent, if you hit a ball at a kid it’s a default (sleeping emoji).”
Kyrgios also quoted a tweet from prominent tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, who posted a video of sporting legend Roger Federer whacking a ball during a match which was caught by a ball kid.
“Roger Federer, notably, often played with fire by zipping balls at ball boys in Australia to test their cricket catches,” Rothenberg said.
Kyrgios responded to the comment by laughing.
“Now it gets ridiculous,” Kyrgios said.
Watch Roland-Garros 2023 from May 28. Every match ad free and on demand. Centre court coverage in 4K UHD on Stan Sport
“The (greatest of all time) having some fun and the ball kids are catching it, making their life memory compared to outside doubles matches.
“Absurd (laughing emoji).”
Some responses pointed out Kyrgios was lucky to not be penalised when he whacked a ball into the crowd during his 2022 Australian Open doubles run, and it hit a child.
But the Aussie found an ally in tennis reporter Craig Gabriel, who agreed there was no other decision but to default Kato and Sutjiadi.
“I’m sorry but the rhetoric over women’s doubles team default is pointless,” Gabriel tweeted.
“Yes it’s unfortunate, no malice was intended but hat happened was against the rules.
“I can guarantee if everything was exactly the same but it was Nick Kyrgios everyone would be baying for blood.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Roland-Garros 2023 in pictures: Djokovic handed gift by reporter before press conference
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
