Nick Kyrgios v the world: Rafael Nadal’s uncle backs Aussie in Stefanos Tsitsipas war of words

While Nick Kyrgios has been painted the villain by many during his incredible Wimbledon run, the polarising Aussie has found support in the most unlikely of places.

Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas exchange a frosty handshake after their match. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty

The worm is starting to turn for Nick Kyrgios, who is gaining more and more support the deeper he goes in the Wimbledon draw – even landing an unlikely ally in the form of Toni Nadal, the uncle and former coach of all-time great Rafael Nadal.

Kyrgios had been labelled Public Enemy No.1 in Britain in the past week as controversies followed the Australian star by way of a spitting incident in his first round win, and then a spiteful clash with Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas over the weekend.

But Nadal believes Kyrgios was blameless for the circus that unfolded and led to Tsitsipas’ vicious post-match remarks, labelling the Australian “a bully” who had a “very evil side.”

Kyrgios had earlier demanded Tsitsipas be defaulted for slamming a ball into the crowd – making his point to the match referee and briefly refusing to play until the issue was resolved.

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Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas exchange a frosty handshake after their match. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty

The ugly match-up also involved Tsitsipas repeatedly, and pointedly, firing his returns into the body of Kyrgios. But it was the divisive Australian who triumphed after four sets.

And, according to Nadal, the one with the evil streak wasn’t his occasional sparring partner Kyrgios at all.

“On some occasions, I have been critical of the Australian as a result of his rudeness, his unsportsmanlike attitudes, his recurrent outbursts or his unfortunate comments,” Toni Nadal wrote an opinion piece for Spanish site Noticiero.lat.

“On this occasion, however, I think the blunder ... is attributable to the Greek.

The Nadals have been critical of Kyrgios in the past. Picture: Peter Wallis

“It is true that Kyrgios is too annoying, provocative and that he can easily drive his opponents out of their mind. However, I was greatly surprised Tsitsipas couldn’t deal with those situations.

“It is clear that Tsitsipas acted to his own detriment, lacking in the habit of dealing with those situations in which a player feels ... unable to control his emotions and his nervousness.”

Kyrgios could yet meet Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon semi-finals, with the two on a collision course for which the reward could be a date with Novak Djokovic in the tournament final.

While gaining unexpected support from Toni Nadal, Kyrgios did have a chuckle at repeated criticism from compatriot Pat Cash, who accused the volatile star of bringing to tennis “the lowest level I can see as far as gamesmanship, cheating, manipulation, abuse, aggressive behaviour to umpires, to linesmen.”

“Honestly, I don’t care. Like, I just smile. Like, it’s so funny,” Kyrgios said in response to Cash’s comments.

“I joke around with my team about it so much. Like, it’s hilarious.

“I almost just wake up and read things, and I just laugh. And I never forget things, like the people say, whether it was three, four years ago, things that just stick with me.

“I have a massive chip on my shoulder. Like I sit here now in quarter-finals Wimbledon again, and I just know there’s so many people that are so upset.”