Australian Open 2022 men’s doubles final: Nick Kyrgios unloads on rival and ‘false’ Ash Barty claim

The rejuvenated star who rocked Melbourne Park as part of the Special Ks doubles team with mate Thanasi Kokkinakis said Barty’s dad Robert told him the crowd produced “the best atmosphere” ever at the Open.”

“Obviously Ash is a hell of a player, but I think the ratings speak for themselves,” Kyrgios said.

Some media seized on this as a slight on Barty.

But Kyrgios, in no uncertain terms on Instagram, slammed the interpretation.

“F--k you media, honestly, I said nothing disrespectful to @ashbarty,” Kyrgios wrote on his Insta story.

“I said that the crowd this year was amazing and I feel as if @The_Kokk1 & I were a big part of that.

“Ash’s father came to me and even said that.

“All I said was that when people watch me around the world, the stadiums are full.

“I grew up with Ash & always knew her potential.”

Kyrgios didn’t miss beaten doubles final opponent Max Purcell, either, slamming the fellow Aussie after he doubled down on his own social media rant about the firebrand’s “disrespect”.

“The way those boys are acting is extremely disrespectful to their opponents,” Purcell, 23, wrote on Instagram, before following up in his interview with: “It was great for ticket sales here, but I’m not so sure how it was taken overseas. If you’re watching some of Nick and Thanasi’s matches earlier in the week and you’re overseas, maybe you get turned off tennis a little bit.”

Kyrgios branded the 23-year-old a “donut” and urged him to focus on his own game, rather than slandering his compatriots.

“As for @MaxPurcell you donut,” he wrote.

“Regarding your comments after the match you clearly have no idea about entertainment & sport.

“If you haven’t noticed, there is a reason why people actually come to my matches.

“It’s because the level & my game are actually worth watching.

“Next time you lose another slam final, you should just put your head down and try to figure out how to play the big points better.

“No need to slate other Aussies in the media cuz people would rather watch paint dry than your S&V game style.”

Purcell slams Special Ks

—Sam Landsberger

The simmering feud between the Special Ks and the M&Ms has erupted, with the Australian Open doubles champions accused of turning overseas fans against the sport.

Ash Barty’s dad Robert told Nick Kyrgios the crowd at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night was the best he has witnessed, but youngster Max Purcell fired verbal bullets at the tournament’s surprise superstars for the second time this week.

Thanasi Kokkinakis urged fans to: “Sink piss and come here, the rowdier the better” as he and Kyrgios stormed past seeded pairs on their way to slam glory.

Kyrgios declared their doubles storm had delivered Tennis Australia the greatest atmosphere in Australian Open history.

But Purcell, who pleaded with the umpire for a ‘let’ call after boozy fans interrupted his first serve during the thrilling final, said such boorish behaviour wouldn’t be tolerated anywhere else in the world.

“It was great for ticket sales here, but I’m not so sure how it was taken overseas,” Purcell said.

“If you’re watching some of Nick and Thanasi’s matches earlier in the week and you’re overseas, maybe you get turned off tennis a little bit.”

Kokkinakis lifted the lid on the spice between the chalk-and-cheese Aussies when asked about Purcell’s partner, Matt Ebden, complimenting their power serving and unplayable singles style in the doubles decider.

“I read we were disrespecting our opponents,” Kokkinakis fired back.

Purcell unloaded on the Special Ks earlier in the week with a social media post that angered their compatriots.

“The way those boys are acting is extremely disrespectful to their opponents,” the 23-year-old Sydneysider said.

“I’m playing with good sportsmanship and having a good time. Not having the crowd yell profanity at my opponents and purposely distracting them in between points.”

Kyrgios returned serve with as much venom as the 200km thunderbolts that helped deliver the best mates a slice of history nine years after they won the junior Wimbledon doubles title.

“I would say that we’ve created probably the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen,” he said.

“Ash’s father came to us and said the crowd was the best he’s ever seen.

“The ratings speak for themselves. People watch my matches, everywhere I play around the world the stadiums are full for that reason.

“I don’t think those people that are screaming out during points is produced from us.

“That’s got nothing to do with us. But there’s a reason why the ratings are the way they are and people are glued to the TV when we play.

“Speaks for itself, really.”

Three fans were ejected from centre court after Purcell’s serve was affected when he was serving to stay in the slam.

While the raucous crowds dominated headlines, behind the scenes Kyrgios cut a more professional figure after cutting the bad influences out of his tight-knit circle who used to “take advantage of me”.

The freakish talent woke up at 7.30am every morning, practised at 8.30am and then jumped in an ice bath – squeezing in a helicopter ride to a winery after that on the eve of the final.

The Special Ks blew Purcell and Ebden away by effectively playing half-court singles.

“Shows you don’t have to serve and volley for all those purists out there,” Kokkinakis, who missed just one ball in the 7-5 6-4 victory, said.

Ebden admitted they were blown away despite doing little wrong, but said to bring on a rematch … or 10.

“They executed rocket serves, great returns and were roping balls from the baseline,” he said.

“Most people who play that style against us I think we have covered, but they just did it slightly too big and too strong.

“I’d like to play them 10 times, I’m sure we’re going to win quite a lot of times, especially maybe in slightly different conditions.”

Originally published as Australian Open 2022 men’s doubles final: Nick Kyrgios unloads on rival and ‘false’ Ash Barty claim