All-Aussie feud: Behind the Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis tit-for-tat with Todd Woodbridge

The traditional tennis pecking order is under fire as more players push back with confidence and a platform. CALLUM DICK analyses the all-Aussie feud playing out at Melbourne Park.

It started with a Todd Woodbridge sledge towards Thanasi Kokkinakis and to no one’s surprise, Nick Kyrgios entered the room to support his mate.

Do the duo have an issue with Woodbridge specifically? Or are they just happy to fire back if they’re criticised, no matter who it is or whatever the person’s past achievements on the court have been.

Kyrgios, as we know, has never been afraid to call out critics regardless of their credentials. Whether it be Novak Djokovic, Dawn Fraser, Boris Becker, Jannik Sinner or even Piers Morgan.

Sometimes he even buries the hatchet like his bromance now with Djokovic and Morgan. Common ground found beyond the character limit of social media.

But this latest explosive tit-for-tat between Kokkinakis and Woodbridge has shone a light on the changing nature of professional sport and the confidence with which the young brigade is willing to push back against the established order.

Nick Kyrgios has come to Thanasi Kokkinakis’ defence. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images/AFP

Aussie doubles legend Woodbridge made waves this week after suggesting Kokkinakis had gotten his priorities all wrong by cashing in at a Russian exhibition tournament in the off-season rather than resting ahead of the Australian summer swing.

Woodbridge’s scathing review came in the wake of Kokkinakis’ early season injury troubles that saw the South Australian withdraw from the Brisbane International and later his hometown Adelaide International after reaching the quarter-finals.

“Yes the money’s great and we all love putting that in our pocket and that’s exactly what he did, but that schedule hurts to start the year,” Woodbridge declared, adding if he was calling the shots Kokkinakis would have also skipped the Adelaide tournament to prioritise the Australian Open.

Kokkinakis returned serve following his thrilling first-round win over Roman Safiullin on Monday, quipping: “That’s why he (Woodbridge) is trying to host every game show there is under the sun … we’re trying to make a living as much as he is.”

On Tuesday night his partner in crime, Kyrgios, waded into the troubled waters with a post on social media labelling Woodbridge “jealous” and urging Kokkinakis to keep “chasing that bread”.

It’s believed Woodbridge and Kokkinakis have caught up since the comments were made and there’s no issues between the pair.

But the all-Aussie feud is a case study in modern sports commentary where now, more than ever before, athletes have a platform to hit back at their critics – and are not afraid to use it.

Kyrgios has been arguably the biggest agent of change in this space, regularly using his social media standing to respond to critics or call foul on things he believes to be wrong.

For years he and Lleyton Hewitt did not see eye-to-eye and both sides made their feelings known when asked about the other.

They now appear to have broken bread, with Kyrgios training alongside Hewitt’s son, Cruz, at Melbourne Park last week.

Most recently, Kyrgios’ continued criticism of world No.1 Jannik Sinner’s doping case has kept the issue in the headlines for months even with the Court for Arbitration for Sport not due to rule on the topic until April.

While his antics are divisive to older generations it is clear Kyrgios’ brash nature strikes a chord with the younger generation – and a big reason why tournament organisers fall over themselves to schedule him on their courts.

Kokkinakis has clearly taken a similar page from Kyrgios’ book and that freedom to say what he thinks is part of the reason why these cashed-up exhibition tournaments come knocking, because there is value in entertainment.

Listen to Kokkinakis talk on podcasts and he pulls no punches. Their value is in their authenticity, not carefully crafted “brands” of the generation before them.

Players are no longer willing to bite their tongue and play the sterile media game of years gone by. Even footy players nowadays - like AFL’s Jack Ginnivan or Jarome Luai in NRL - happily clap back at criticism via their social feeds.

If commentators like Woodbridge are willing to serve it up, be prepared for a fiery forehand return.

Originally published as All-Aussie feud: Behind the Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis tit-for-tat with Todd Woodbridge