The ever-vocal Australian tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, has recently fired back at German tennis legend Boris Becker, branding him a “criminal”. This transpired after Becker found amusement in a social media post that satirized Kyrgios’ continual criticism of Jannik Sinner’s doping case.
Kyrgios is a well-known figure in the tennis world; not just for his formidable skills on the court but also for his outspoken nature off it. He gained significant attention in 2022 when he reached the Wimbledon finals. However, in recent times, it is his relentless commentary on Sinner’s doping scandal that has kept him in the limelight.
Sinner, an Italian tennis player, found himself at the center of controversy when he settled for a three-month doping ban imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Kyrgios did not hold back from voicing his strong opinions on this matter.
The social media post that sparked the recent feud came from a tennis fan account, Swish Tennis. The post parodied Kyrgios’ ongoing criticism of Sinner: “2084: Did I tell you about the time Jannik Sinner failed two doping tests? The whole system is rigged! Why won’t the establishment do anything? This is why I never won a big title!” Becker responded to this with a simple “lol.”
Kyrgios, never one to shy away from a verbal spar, retorted with “What’s up criminal.” This was a pointed reference to Becker’s legal troubles in 2022. Becker, a former world number one and six-time Grand Slam champion, was convicted and sentenced to two and a half years for concealing assets following his declaration of bankruptcy. He served a mere eight months in a British prison before being deported to his home country, Germany, where he was released.
Despite his criminal record, Becker managed to maintain his position within the tennis community. Post his prison stint, he continued working with Danish tennis player, Holger Rune, and remained active in tennis broadcasting. In previous interviews, Becker expressed that his time in prison was “a hard lesson” and admitted to fearing for his life.
At 57, Becker has managed to steer clear of further legal issues. Nonetheless, his past indiscretions clearly remain fodder for those like Kyrgios, who do not hesitate to use them as ammunition in their public exchanges.
