Nick Kyrgios lashes out over backlash after e-scooter image goes viral

Nick Kyrgios has come under the microscope from Victoria Police after he was snapped riding an e-scooter without a helmet.

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios riding a e-scooter on Elizabeth street in Melbourne, Sunday, January 15, 2023. (AAP Image/James Ross) NO ARCHIVING

Nick Kyrgios may have landed in hot water before his Australian Open campaign even gets underway.

The Aussie was spotted with his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi riding around the streets of Melbourne in an image that whipped around social media.

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Kyrgios and Hatzi, photographed on Elizabeth Street, can be seen riding down the road on an e-scooter.

But the issue for Kyrgios is the fact he’s riding without a helmet on.

The move is a clear breach of Victorian road rules which require e-scooter riders to wear approved bicycle helmets.

To make matters worse for the 27-year-old, a helmet is clearly visible and attached to the e-scooter they’re riding.

Victoria Police provided an official statement to news.com.au on the photo showing Kyrgios and Hatzi riding an e-scooter on the street.

“Police are aware of an online image of a man riding a scooter in Melbourne’s CBD without a helmet,” the statement read.

“Although it’s unclear when the image was taken, Melbourne Highway Patrol, now that they’re aware, will make enquiries in relation to the incident.”

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios riding a e-scooter on Elizabeth street in Melbourne, Sunday, January 15, 2023. (AAP Image/James Ross)

Former NBA and NBL star Andrew Bogut, who holds a notable dislike for the Daniel Andrews-led Victorian government, was quick to call out the absurd backlash.

“Such a nanny state! Fine him for not taking his own safety seriously,” he tweeted along with several clown emojis.

The tweet from Bogut drew a response from the man himself with Kyrgios replying: “nah it’s too much now”.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 nah it’s too much now

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 15, 2023

The Canberra native hasn’t enjoyed a smooth lead-up to the Australian Open after blindsiding his Australian teammates by pulling out of the United Cup the day before.

Battling an ankle injury, he was forced to pull the pin on playing in the Adelaide International but took to Rod Laver Arena last Friday in an exhibition blockbuster against Novak Djokovic.

He has however had his fair share of battles away from the court, ruffling the feathers of Australian tennis greats Pat Rafter and Pat Cash.

Rafter voiced his displeasure with how Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis conducted themselves on court and said they were getting under the skin of other players on tour.

Kyrgios hit back emphatically.

“He would have absolutely zero idea on what the locker room thinks. Me and kokk have great relationships with most of the players on tour. Guy is clueless,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.

Nick isn’t having it. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Cash took issue with the Australian Open putting on the glorified practice match on the main court for the Aussie and the 21-time Grand Slam winner.

Kyrgios’ Australian Open campaign gets underway on Tuesday night at 7pm when he takes on Russian Roman Safiullin.

After a career year in 2022 the Aussie will be hoping to emulate his stellar form and eclipse his best efforts at the Australian Open, which came back in 2015 when he reached the quarter-finals.