United Cup, Australian Open news: Lleyton Hewitt says he was blindsided by Kyrgios’ withdrawal, Kyrgios hits back at critics
Tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt expressed his frustration with Nick Kyrgios after the star withdrew from the United Cup. It comes hot on the heels of Kyrgios slamming critics of his withdrawal.
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Australian team captain Lleyton Hewitt has expressed frustration Nick Kyrgios didn’t tell him he’d be pulling out of the United Cup, revealing he’d been left as blindsided by the news as his players.
Hewitt defended Alex de Minaur after he lost in straight sets to world No. 14 Cameron Norrie – who was supposed to have been facing Kyrgios before the controversial tennis star withdrew from the tournament 10 minutes before he was due to line up alongside teammates at a press conference on Wednesday.
The late withdrawal left Team Australia scrambling to reorganise their match scheduling, and forced de Minaur into a battle with left-hander Norrie, and Spanish left-handed legend Rafael Nadal next Monday, when he’d been practicing to face Great Britain’s right-hander Dan Evans and then Spanish right-hander Pablo Curreno Busta next Tuesday.
“I was in the same boat as all the other players yesterday, I didn’t know anymore,” Hewitt said.
“So it was pretty tough for everyone. It was more the lack of communication I think, for these guys not knowing.
“I’m so proud of this bloke (de Minaur) and his effort, and how he makes playing for his country a priority, it’s something I’m very proud of.
“For the whole team, it was pretty tough not knowing what was going on for the last 24 hours.
“It’s more the communication, and if it was just worrying Nick, that’s one thing. But when it revolves around a team and other people, and their preparation, they want to be playing as well as they possibly can, not just in this event but leading into the Australian Open, that’s probably the hardest thing.”
Asked how communication with Kyrgios could be improved, Hewitt said: “Just responding, that’s the normal way of doing it.”
Then asked if he’d contacted Kyrgios and received no response, Hewitt replied: “There was a little while”.
Kyrgios said he’d been in regular contact with tournament organisers about an ankle injury sustained in Dubai that ultimately led him to make his late decision, however Hewitt and Kyrgios’ Aussie teammates clearly weren’t kept updated.
Norrie defeated De Minaur 6-3 6-3 at Ken Rosewall Arena.
“Alex is probably being a bit hard on himself, I know how hard he’s worked, his focus was always to be playing against Dan Evans tomorrow night, to have that thrown at him yesterday wasn’t easy,” Hewitt said.
“And just his training patterns and workload and planning what he was going to do, it’s funny how it turns out, he’s got to play two lefties now, where he was planning on playing two righties. It is completely different.
“It’s just not ideal for him, but he’s not going to make excuses that’s for sure.”
Earlier in the day, Kyrgios slammed media coverage of his sudden withdrawal from the inaugural United Cup as disrespectful, while forecasting that his appearance on an upcoming Netflix documentary will grow tennis’ fan base exponentially.
The teams-based United Cup began on Thursday, but organisers advised on Wednesday that Kyrgios was pulling out to deal with an ankle injury sustained at a tournament in Dubai.
One opinion piece labelled Kyrgios “lame” after his last-minute withdrawal, while his Australian teammates gave short, sharp answers when quizzed about his pullout, preferring to concentrate on those who are competing.
Kyrgios enters the summer schedule still without a coach and seemingly without a media advisor, but still creates headlines with his actions and words on social media.
Kyrgios is clearly aggrieved with the ensuing coverage of his withdrawal, writing on Twitter: “Haha so after all this, all the media, journalism saying how bad I am for the sport, disrespecting the game & just a pure villain, I am going to be the number 1 episode on Netflix … to grow our fan base, basically trying to put tennis on the map again
“And essentially putting more money in everyone’s pockets that’s involved with tennis, you all look really ridiculous now your apology should be as loud as your disrespect was.”
Kyrgios is referencing the new reality documentary series Break Point, which will air on Netflix on January 13 and has been developed by the same producers of Formula One series Drive To Survive, which brought millions of new fans to motorsport.
With Kyrgios out of the Australian team, Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic will lead the charge for the hosts in Sydney.
The teams-based United Cup, being played in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, would have seen Kyrgios lead Team Australia against Great Britain, Czech Republic, and a Spain team featuring legend Rafael Nadal.
The finals featuring the best nations in each group will be held in Sydney from January 6-8.
Kyrgios could feature in a tournament in Adelaide before the Australian Open begins.
AO tournament director Craig Tiley defended the timing of Kyrgios’ withdrawal, 10 minutes before he was supposed to front media with the rest of the Australian team.
“We had conversations with Nick, he is taking a precautionary decision as indicated to us to protect his ankle in his preparation for the Australian Open,” Tiley said on TODAY.
“He gave himself, we believe, the best possible chance (by) maximising the time up until when you were allowed to withdraw from the event.
“Most athletes – this is the situation with Nick – will give themselves the best possible opportunity to compete and will make a decision as late as they possibly can.
“It is more difficult when you play in the United Cup which is a team competition so it does impact others, but (withdrawals are) fairly common … when they are preparing for a major event and have quite a few lead-in events.”
One of Kyrgios’ rivals, Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, quipped about the withdrawal before his match in Perth. “I don’t see it as a surprise. I hope he enjoys his holidays.”
Another player Kyrgios has previously clashed with, Norway’s world No. 3 Casper Ruud, said: “I didn’t receive a Christmas card from him nor he a Chrissie one from me but if we see each other we can say hello. There are no hard feelings.
Ruud and Kyrgios had a heated match at the Italian Open in 2019 when Kyrgios threw a chair and was defaulted, after which Ruud said he should be banned for six months.
Kyrgios told Ruud on Twitter he’d “rather watch paint dry then watch you play tennis”.
The 27-year-old Australian then defeated Ruud at Indian Wells this year and said into the television camera after his victory: “I hear no talking now. None.”
But Ruud is not interested in a continuing war.
“You don’t want to have a feud going on against him because he will probably want to bring his A game whenever he plays you,” Ruud said.
“He came to me in the Laver Cup last year in Boston and congratulated me after my victory so he has been positive and cheering me on the last year or so.
“It was (good) to see him do so well at Wimbledon (this year) and coaching himself to the final.”
‘PURE VILLAIN’ KYRGIOS: YOU ALL OWE ME AN APOLOGY
Nick Kyrgios slammed media coverage of his sudden withdrawal from the inaugural United Cup as disrespectful, while forecasting that his appearance on an upcoming Netflix documentary will grow tennis’ fan base exponentially.
The teams-based United Cup began on Thursday, but organisers advised on Wednesday that Kyrgios was pulling out to deal with an ankle injury sustained at a tournament in Dubai.
One opinion piece labelled Kyrgios “lame” after his last-minute withdrawal, while his Australian teammates gave short, sharp answers when quizzed about his pullout, preferring to concentrate on those who are competing.
Kyrgios enters the summer schedule still without a coach and seemingly without a media Adviser, but still creates headlines with his actions and words on social media.
Kyrgios is clearly aggrieved with the ensuing coverage of his withdrawal, writing on Twitter: “Haha so after all this, all the media, journalism saying how bad I am for the sport, disrespecting the game & just a pure villain, I am going to be the number 1 episode on Netflix … to grow our fan base, basically trying to put tennis on the map again.
“And essentially putting more money in everyone’s pockets that’s involved with tennis, you all look really ridiculous now your apology should be as loud as your disrespect was.”
Kyrgios is referencing the new reality documentary series Break Point, which will air on Netflix on January 13 and has been developed by the same producers of Formula One series Drive To Survive, which brought millions of new fans to motorsport.
With Kyrgios out of the Australian team, Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic will lead the charge for the hosts in Sydney.
The teams-based United Cup, being played in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, would have seen Kyrgios lead Team Australia against Great Britain, Czech Republic, and a Spain team featuring legend Rafael Nadal.
The finals featuring the best nations in each group will be held in Sydney from January 6-8.
Haha so after all this, all the media, journalism saying how bad I am for the sport, disrespecting the game & just a pure villain, I am going to be the number 1 episode on Netflix… to grow our fan base, basically trying to put tennis on the map again ðŸ¤
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 29, 2022
Kyrgios could feature in a tournament in Adelaide before the Australian Open begins.
AO tournament director Craig Tiley defended the timing of Kyrgios’ withdrawal, 10 minutes before he was supposed to front media with the rest of the Australian team.
“We had conversations with Nick, he is taking a precautionary decision as indicated to us to protect his ankle in his preparation for the Australian Open,” Tiley said on TODAY.
“He gave himself, we believe, the best possible chance (by) maximising the time up until when you were allowed to withdraw from the event.
And essentially putting more money in everyone’s pockets that’s involved with tennis, you all look really ridiculous now ðŸ¤ðŸ¤£ your apology should be as loud as your disrespect was.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 29, 2022
“Most athletes – this is the situation with Nick – will give themselves the best possible opportunity to compete and will make a decision as late as they possibly can.
“It is more difficult when you play in the United Cup which is a team competition so it does impact others, but (withdrawals are) fairly common … when they are preparing for a major event and have quite a few lead-in events.”
One of Kyrgios’ rivals, Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, quipped about the withdrawal before his match in Perth. “I don’t see it as a surprise. I hope he enjoys his holidays.”
Another player Kyrgios has previously clashed with, Norway’s world No. 3 Casper Ruud, said: “I didn’t receive a Christmas card from him nor he one from me but if we see each other we can say hello. There are no hard feelings.
Ruud and Kyrgios had a heated match at the Italian Open in 2019 when Kyrgios threw a chair and was defaulted, after which Ruud said he should be banned for six months.
Kyrgios told Ruud on Twitter he’d “rather watch paint dry then watch you play tennis”.
The 27-year-old Australian then defeated Ruud at Indian Wells this year and said into the television camera after his victory: “I hear no talking now. None.”
But Ruud is not interested in a continuing war.
“You don’t want to have a feud going on against him because he will probably want to bring his A game whenever he plays you,” Ruud said.
“He came to me in the Laver Cup last year in Boston and congratulated me after my victory so he has been positive and cheering me on the last year or so.
“It was (good) to see him do so well at Wimbledon (this year) and coaching himself to the final.”
TSITSIPAS REIGNITES KYRGIOS FEUD, AUS OPEN IN DARK
By Callum Dick
Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas told rival Nick Kyrgios to “enjoy his holidays” after the Australian stunned his team by withdrawing from the United Cup at the last minute.
And Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley says he is “confident” Kyrgios will be fit to play the Australian Open but admits he has not personally spoken to the world No. 22 since his shock decision on Wednesday.
Kyrgios pulled out of the mixed teams event on the eve of the inaugural tournament, to be held in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
“It is not a surprise, I hope he enjoys his holidays,” Tsitsipas, the main talent on the eight-player Greek side in Perth, said.
The pair have had a fractious relationship which came to a head at Wimbledon this year when Tsitsipas said his Australian opponent had an “evil side”, after a bad-tempered third-round match.
That contest descended into mayhem when a frustrated Tsitsipas hit the ball into the crowd after losing the second set and Kyrgios told the umpire his opponent should be kicked out of the tournament.
The bad feeling bubbled up again in post-match press conferences, with Tsitsipas calling him “a bully”.
This week, Tsitsipas said Kyrgios: “I don’t know where all of his energy comes from. There is so much of it, I don’t know how he does it.
“You cannot concentrate on your own game, there is so much noise coming from the other side of the net. It’s distracting, you have to be at your best to overcome it all.”
Tiley said on Thursday morning he had spoken to Kyrgios’s team but not the man himself since Australian teammates were left blindsided by the polarising player’s last-minute withdrawal due to a reported ankle injury.
“We have spoken to his team and they gave us indication that they’ve made this decision and he’s made this decision to give himself maximum opportunity to be in the best possible shape for the Australian Open and recover from his ankle injury, and we are confident that he will be fine and looking forward to playing the Australian Open,” Tiley said.
The Australian team fronted media in Sydney on Wednesday where co-captain Sam Stosur revealed they had “literally just found out 10 minutes ago” that Kyrgios had withdrawn from the United Cup.
Kyrgios later posted to his Instagram story showing him walking around Sydney’s Darling Harbour, which only served to heighten criticism of Australia’s top male tennis player after the timing of his exit from the United Cup was called into question.
However, Tiley came to Kyrgios’s defence on Thursday morning, declaring the Aussie ace had made the call as late as possible to give himself the best chance of possibly suiting up in the green and gold.
“I can’t talk to the posting (on social media) but I can say most athletes – and in this case the situation with Nick – will give themselves the best possible opportunity to compete and will make the decision as late as they possibly can,” Tiley told Channel 9.
“It is more difficult when you’re playing the United Cup, it is a team competition, it does impact others, but it is fairly common what the athletes do when preparing for a major event.
“We have quite a few lead-in events … there will be probably other athletes in a similar position to what Nick has been in.”
Kyrgios is due to play in the second week of the Adelaide International, which begins on January 9, however it is unclear if he will be fit to play the final lead-in event before the Australian Open begins on January 16.
Eighteen countries will compete in the United Cup across 11 days from Thursday, with the three cities all hosting group games in a round-robin format before a finals series in Sydney.
Ties comprise two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles. Tsitsipas said the Greek team was psyched up about trying to lead a minor tennis nation to big achievements in the new tournament.
“We are all doing this together,” he said of the squad’s spirit. “Our team all have their eyes on the prize, but this (winning) can only be achieved by combining forces and committing every day.
“When it comes to tennis, team events are my favourite. I have a lot of faith in the players on our squad, we are all striving for excellence together.
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