Nick Kyrgios slams Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Rasheed on social media

As a trio of Aussies played their hearts out on the court, Nick Kyrgios went rogue off it — tearing into the likes of Roger Rasheed and Lleyton Hewitt across social media platforms.

He just can’t help himself, can he?

After being knocked out of the men’s doubles at Melbourne Park, Nick Kyrgios went rogue on social media, posting a screenshot of Lleyton Hewitt doing sideline commentary for Channel 9 from Alex de Minaur’s players’ box.

Nick Kyrgios' deleted Instagram post slamming Lleyton Hewitt.

Kyrgios posted a poll to his 998,000 followers, with two options “Demon” and “No one else”.

“Who’s (sic) match is he watching,” Kyrgios asked.

Kyrgios removed the Insta story shortly after it was posted during de Minaur’s second-round match but it added weight to Tomic’s comments that there was a rift in the Davis Cup camp.

The poll followed one by Kyrgios earlier this month on Twitter when he was asked why Hewitt didn’t watch he or Thanasi Kokkinakis play during the Brisbane International.

“He has what some call abandon us (sic),’‘ Kyrgios responded in a tweet he later deleted and claimed he was joking.

Kyrgios f-bombs his way out of Australian Open

Count your millions but manners cost nothing

But firebrand Kyrgios, no stranger to shooting from the hip on social media, launched a tirade against Sportsday Radio on Twitter.

He took umbrage to comments that respected tennis coach Roger Rasheed — best known for mentoring players Hewitt, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils — made on radio earlier today.

“You blokes all have zero idea. It’s comical people like yourself have an opinion of us. You blokes are anything but athletes, so how about you concentrate on your own s---. Zero credibility,” Kyrgios tweeted, before going directly at Rasheed.

“You should be ashamed mate.”

Not done yet, Kyrgios added: “Like please explain to me the similarities between AFL and tennis. Shut your mouth.”

Kyrgios’ tirades added fuel to the bonfire around a rift within the Australian camp, which Bernard Tomic started after his first-round exit.

It’s not the first time Kyrgios has singled out Rasheed for criticism.

In 2016 he bit back at Rasheed, who had questioned why Kyrgios was playing doubles at the US Open, having previously retired with a hip complaint during an aborted singles campaign.

“John McEnroe takes a stab, I understand, Roger Rasheed haha maybe not so much. I got to ur (your) career high when I was 18... ease up champ,” Kyrgios tweeted back then.

IN DEFENCE OF NICK

By Joe Barton

While many fired back at Kyrgios, compatriot John Millman came out in defence of his mate after completing his five-set epic against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

The Australian No.2 not only said he would welcome both troubled stars back to the Davis Cup set-up but singled Kyrgios out for special praise due to his extensive charity work.

“I actually really like Nick. I think he’s a top bloke,” Millman said.

“Sometimes we go a bit hard on him when you don’t see what he’s doing off the court. He has his own charity. That’s more than me, to be honest with you.

“I try to be a good Samaritan, whatever. Nick has used his stature and managed to have the NK Foundation, which I think is fantastic.

“Sometimes we forget about those things when we’re just having a go at performances.”

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Originally published as Nick Kyrgios slams Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Rasheed on social media