The Australian doubles act offer one of the wildest rides in tennis but it remains to be seen how they will be received on the genteel lawns of SW19The rowdier the crowd, the better. Such a plea would usually be as welcome at Wimbledon as Russian and Belarusian players in 2022. But it is the ethos that drives the Special Ks show, coming to the All England Club over the next fortnight and featuring bullet-like serving, blistering forehands and bombastical quotes.The Australian double act of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have played to full houses in Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami this year, drawing crowds with their thrill-a-minute routine. A doubles match featuring the duo provides one of the wildest...
While the more deserving await the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award verdict on Sunday night, here is our list of sporting anti-heroes from 2019The Military World Games may have received little publicity in Britain, which is not one of the 140 countries from Albania to Zimbabwe who participate but it was one of the year’s greatest festivals of sport, attracting nearly 10,000 participants to the Chinese city of Wuhan in October. Related: Ben Stokes on pole to take BBC sports personality of the year award Continue reading...
Daniil Medvedev goading the crowd and Nick Kyrgios getting hot under the collar in a sport comically perfect for rebels, what’s not to love?Purely in terms of tournament sass, it was predictable Novak Dojokovic would be booed off court after retiring from injury at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday night after once again deciding to graciously gift an opponent a win. The US Open is operating at Liberace levels of theatrics and is highly watchable for it.Djokovic had already sworn at the crowd and threatened a spectator during one practice session. “I’ll come find you after the match,” he glowered. “Trust me, I’ll come find you.” Retweeting the footage, Nick Kyrgios added the words “I’m scared” and an emoji suggesting...
World No 30 accused ATP of corruption before clarifying his comments but he owes tennis after a series of misdemeanoursAt some point, Nick Kyrgios will surely get bored being more famous for being an idiot than a very fine tennis player, but his latest outburst, which could earn him a year’s suspension, suggests that day is not at hand.It is likely that when the Australian time bomb called the Association of Tennis Professionals “corrupt” after winning in the first round here on day two he had little regard for the consequences, or even meant what he said. Related: US Open 2019 first round: Nick Kyrgios beats Steve Johnson in straight sets – as it happened Continue reading...
Maverick Australian’s underarm serving has caused a stir in Miami but 100 years ago Suzanne Lenglen was attracting similar gasps for serving overarmWhen Nick Kyrgios crashed out of the Miami Open in the fourth round overnight, strapping holding his right knee together but his emotions less secure, he left his familiar impression, the magician/villain du jour of tennis. There surely will not be a better tweener this year than the one he put on Borna Coric before losing in three sets. But that is Kyrgios: unfathomable in every way.The mercurial Australian might not be aware of it, but Suzanne Lenglen, a rebel in silk skirts and garters (but no corset), shares a bond with him that stretches across a hundred...