(Reuters)Nick Kyrgios has turned down a million-dollar challenge from Bernard Tomic to settle their differences on court as the Australian tennis players continue their spat on Friday.
Kyrgios described Tomic as the most hated athlete in Australia as the pair exchanged barbs about who was the better player on Instagram on Wednesday night.
Tomic, who won his only professional meeting in Kooyong in 2019, returned the premium by offering to put up $1 million for a singles competition.
“At the end of the day, talking is cheap,” Tomic told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I’m ready to make that 2-0 whenever you want. Put your money where your mouth is.
“Let the public decide who is better. I’ll smack you anywhere and everywhere. If not, shut up and play doubles again.
“I’ll dominate you one on one,” he added. “In order not to find excuses, I will even play you on grass whenever you want.
“You know what? Let’s settle this in the boxing ring. Put on your gloves, I will dominate you there too. Let’s see who’s better once and for all.”
Kyrgios didn’t rule out a boxing match one day but said the world No. 418 would need to work his way back up the rankings to join him.
“I’m still playing on the tour, my brother, I have bigger fish to fry,” said the world number 76. in an Instagram video.
“If you want to play me and make that clear, just come back to the top of the sport. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”
Kyrgios won his first Grand Slam doubles title at the Australian Open this year and also reached the singles quarterfinals at the $8.5 million tournament in Indian Wells.
One-time prodigy Tomic, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals as a teenager, most recently lost in the first round of a $53,120 event in Mexico on the second-tier Challenger Tour.
Add Comment