Nick Kyrgios is absolutely kidding himself and Pat Rafter knows it

Nick Kyrgios divided tennis with a wild boast after winning the Australian Open — but living legend Pat Rafter isn’t on his side.

COMMENT

Even Australian tennis royalty Pat Rafter thinks Nick Kyrgios is delusional.

Always the centre of attention every summer when the Australian Open rolls around, the 26-year-old was at his smack-talking best when he responded to critics with an angry Instagram message after being accused of disrespecting Ash Barty with his boasts about being responsible for generating the best atmosphere in tennis.

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After winning the Australian Open men’s doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kyrgios told reporters he helped create the “the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen” — a comment that didn’t sit well with tennis commentators, who gave the Canberra product a reality check over his “extraordinary” inability to read the room.

Barty’s win over Danielle Collins in the women’s singles final on Saturday smashed TV ratings records, reaching a peak audience of 4.3 million Australians. Her broad appeal across all genders, ages and even with non-sports lovers made her must-watch viewing as she became the first Aussie woman to hoist the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup aloft in 44 years.

The atmosphere at Barty’s final can’t just be measured by a decibel reading. While screams and shouts of “siu” have been the norm at clashes featuring the Special Ks over the past fortnight, the tension and suspense in the air at Rod Laver Arena as Barty chased her third grand slam title made the occasion just as gripping.

It may have been a different ambience to what Kyrgios himself has described as the “zoo” that follows his and Kokkinakis’ matches, but Barty’s blockbuster was still the show everyone wanted to watch.

How many of the millions of viewers would have turned the TV off after Barty’s trophy presentation on Saturday night — just when Kyrgios and Kokkinakis were strolling onto the court for their all-Aussie final against Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell?

Even Purcell acknowledged the doubles teams were fortunate to play after Barty, because she “brought a huge crowd there”.

Appearing on Sunday night’s episode of The Project, tennis legend Rafter said what many were thinking when quizzed about Kyrgios’ press conference claims. After being shown a clip of his comments and asked if he agreed with the Aussie wild child, Rafter simply burst out laughing.

“Well, it’s a different type of atmosphere. They certainly create a lot of chaos out there in the crowd,” Rafter said. “I wouldn’t call it a traditional tennis crowd that they get — it’s like a soccer crowd.

“In terms of the best ever atmosphere, I don’t know. I was on the court when Ash went out and the scream that they got, you’re not going to get any better than that.

“It generally happens all around the singles court and the scream that she got from the crowd there was something you’ll never be able to replicate unless you’re in that situation.”

Pat Rafter isn’t so sure about Nick Kyrgios’ claim.

The dream team has done plenty of good for tennis, but there’s no topping Ash Barty just yet. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Plenty of observers have praised the Special Ks and believe it’s a good thing they’ve drawn a different audience to tennis and added an extra layer of excitement to the Australian Open. But it’s not an environment that sits well with everyone.

British broadcaster and co-host of The Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker, doesn’t believe there’s actually that much “new” about the crowds that flocked to the doubles courts at Melbourne Park.

“I personally feel a bit alienated by it. I find it a very male throwback, testosterone-y energy,” she told ABC’s Offsiders on Sunday. “In terms of this new crowd, it doesn’t feel that new to me. It feels very male.

“Bit too much bro in the bromance.”

There’s no doubt Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have given tennis an infectious jolt of energy doubles has rarely seen before. But is the atmosphere more enthralling, or more primal, than what we’ve seen at some incredible Davis Cup ties played as recently as early on this century?

Recency bias is obviously at play here but for Kyrgios to suggest the Australian Open has never seen an atmosphere like the one he generates is, as Rafter clearly believes, laughable.