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By Baseline Staff Mar 19, 2024

Rat vs. Doughnut: Kyrgios handles Becker's heat

Published Jun 30, 2020

This was just days after Zverev stated he would self-isolate after his exposure to COVID-positive Adria Tour participants Novak Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric, Viktor Troicki and Goran Ivanisevic.

Nick Kyrgios has emerged as the voice of reason during all of the recent coronavirus fallout, questioning the US Open's decision to push onward and putting his fellow players on blast.

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US OPEN 🤦🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/FASUHN30Eq
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 26, 2020

Never afraid to share his opinion, he was clear on what he thought of the Adria Tour players partying at a night club in Belgrade.

Prayers up to all the players that have contracted Covid - 19. Don’t @ me for anything I’ve done that has been ‘irresponsible’ or classified as ‘stupidity’ - this takes the cake. https://t.co/lVligELgID
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 23, 2020

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Then came footage of Alexander Zverev going to a packed day club in Monaco with Lucas Pouille.

Alexander Zverev: "I will proceed to follow self-isolating guidelines"

Also Alexander Zverev:

(via @BenRothenberg) pic.twitter.com/Uxl976RaS6
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) June 29, 2020

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Nick Kyrgios: "Sascha Zverev again man, again, again, how selfish can you be? How selfish can you be?

"at least have the audacity to stay inside for 14 days"

"pissing me off, this tennis world is pissing me off, seriously. How selfish can you all get?"

I see no lies tbh... pic.twitter.com/egcxH0HL2K
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) June 29, 2020

The latest has been a Twitter spat with Boris Becker, who referred to Krygios as a rat for calling out Zverev and Djokovic.

For goodness sake Boris, I’m not competing or trying to throw anyone under the bus. It’s a global pandemic and if someone is as idiotic as Alex to do what he has done, I’ll call him out for it. Simple.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 30, 2020

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The mini-feud escalated from there, with Kyrgios calling the German both a champion and a doughnut.

Rats? For holding someone accountable? Strange way to think of it champion, I’m just looking out for people. WHEN my family and families all over the world have respectfully done the right thing. And you have a goose waving his arms around, imma say something.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 30, 2020

It all ended quite abruptly, at least from Kyrgios' end.

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Haha nah bro I’m good, don’t act like you’re my friend now because you got sat down.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 30, 2020

But Becker went on:

There is an unspoken understanding between athletes! Whatever happens on the court stays there including the lockers! Nobody will talk about it ... #respect #sport #fellowship
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) June 30, 2020

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I really would like to se @NickKyrgios fulfill his potential and win a grandslam! He would be an incredible role model for for the youth of the world addressing the issues of equality/race/heritage! Man up buddy and deliver! @atptour @ITF_Tennis
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) June 30, 2020

With Reilly Opelka chiming in to raise one question many were thinking:

Confused why he tagged @farfetch lol. Great place to get some drench tho @TommyPaul1 https://t.co/O5t45ukW8f
— Reilly Opelka (@ReillyOpelka) June 30, 2020

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If Kyrgios was playing the Ultimate Tennis Showdown his nickname would have to be "The Enforcer". The 26-year-old has been at home in Canberra for the tour shutdown, posting plenty of training videos as well as cozy photos with what is presumably his new girlfriend, Chiara Passari.

Check out the latest episode of the TENNIS.com Podcast with Sachia Vickery:

Rat vs. Doughnut: Kyrgios handles Becker's heat

Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tennis-com-podcast/id339875623 | https://open.spotify.com/show/2ihq5SJ8N72EsloO9XunbW

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