‘P***ing me off’: Rival fumes over Kyrgios-inspired crowd antics

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have knocked out the top seeds at the Australian Open, with their opponents taking a dig at the crowd.

Aussie besties Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have knocked out the top seeds in round two doubles at the Australian Open. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Australian tennis players Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have beaten the top seeds in a huge upset in round two of the men’s doubles at the Australian Open.

Kia Arena was packed to watch the 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 win against Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, who are ranked no. 1 in the world for doubles and won gold at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

It comes after Kyrgios lost his singles match against world no. 2 Daniil Medvedev at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrate their win against the top seeds. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Mate Pavic speaks with the umpire after becoming frustrated. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The crowd erupted as Kyrgios and Kokkinakis took the lead after a tie-break in the first set.

The arena was not subjected to 50 per cent capacity like Rod Laver, and it showed.

In a very Australian move during the first set, one man demanded the crowd’s attention to do a shoey (drink a beer from his shoe), with the crowd more than eager to get behind him and cheer him on.

The rowdy atmosphere, however, frustrated Pavic, who had a heated argument with the chair umpire.

What's going on? 🤔🤔

Pate Mavic has a crack at the umpire for telling the crowd to be quiet... on his serve! 🤨🤨#AusOpen - Live on Channel 9 and 9Now pic.twitter.com/dksTzkjHpo

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 21, 2022

In the second set on his serve, Pavic said: “This is p***ing me off … don’t let that happen.”

Commentators speculated whether he was annoyed at the crowd making noise as he was trying to serve or Kyrgios, who was swaying back and forth on the other side of the court.

Speaking in a press conference after the match, Pavic told news.com.au it was not the crowd but rather “something else” which he didn’t want to disclose.

A fan drinks from a shoe during the second round doubles match between Nick Kyrgios of Australia and Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia against Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Mate Pavic of Croatia.

As for the crowd, Pavic said: “It wouldn’t hurt to show some respect.”

He referenced how Medvedev had the same experience against Kyrgios at Rod Laver on Thursday night.

“That’s how they are here. We used to that … but it wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect,” he said.

Mektic praised his Aussie rivals, adding: “The guys played really well. They’re a nasty team to beat here and that’s it.”

Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis talk tactics. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

As usual, Kyrgios was not afraid to hype the crowd, which he has said is strategic. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Channel 9 sports reporter Ayrton Woolley said Kyrgios was a “freak”.

“Anyone who thinks Kyrgios is not good for tennis needs to reassess. He’s actually a freak. Would not watch doubles in a million years, yet here we are,” he wrote on Twitter.

American sports reporter Ben Rothenberg said: “When motivated singles players face the best in doubles, my money is usually on singles guys.”