Nick Kyrgios scolds reporter for ‘Stupidest question ever’ at ATP Cup

Nick Kyrgios was in a good mood after an incredible win but his mood turned sour when confronted with a “stupid” question.

Australia faces a potential ATP Cup semi-final showdown with Spain if Rafael Nadal and Co. can beat Belgium — and Nick Kyrgios has no doubt his team’s youngest player can handle the world’s best.

If, as expected, captain Lleyton Hewitt opts for the same singles selections as the ones that took part in the thrilling 2-1 win over Great Britain, then Kyrgios will get another run but he won’t face his nemesis Nadal.

Instead, that honour will go to Alex de Minaur.

Unlike Davis Cup, where teams can choose who plays who, in the ATP Cup each country’s top-ranked player is automatically drawn to play against one another.

That would pit world No. 1 Nadal against world No. 18 de Minaur, who lost a gruelling three-setter to Dan Evans on Thursday but bounced back to partner Kyrgios in a dramatic doubles match that saw the Aussies secure victory with an 18-16 win in a super tiebreak.

Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios got it done.

Kyrgios and Nadal famously don’t get on, and the bad blood only ran deeper after their spicy clash in the second round at Wimbledon last year – but their rivalry will be put on hold if de Minaur is selected for another bout of singles in Sydney on Saturday night.

That doesn’t worry Kyrgios, who shut down a reporter when questioned about his thoughts on whether de Minaur was “up to taking on Rafa”.

“Obviously. That’s the stupidest question I’ve ever heard,” Kyrgios said.

Hewitt was happy to expand a bit more, saying the 20-year-old Aussie is in the best form of his career and will only benefit from playing someone of Nadal’s calibre.

“You’re the underdog going into any match against Rafa and we all know the intensity and quality of play that he’s going to bring – he brings it day in and day out,” Hewitt said.

“It’s going to be a good test though for Alex to step up to the mark against that kind of player. Alex is playing some of the best tennis of his career right now as well so right now, we’ll just enjoy it for probably the next 24 hours.

Nick Kyrgios let the reporter have it.

“The boys have to recover as well as possible and do everything right. We’ll wait and see how Spain go tomorrow night and then we’ll turn our attention to whoever we’ve got to play Saturday night.”

Kyrgios couldn’t resist taking a sly dig at Nadal in his press conference after defeating Cameron Norrie in straight sets, during which he unfurled an underarm serve that’s quickly becoming a trademark way to catch opponents off guard.

Kyrgios debuted the cheeky tactic against Nadal in Mexico last year and referenced the Spaniard when asked about its effectiveness.

“I think any time in a match where your opponent stops thinking about what he needs to do and starts focusing on external things like that, I think I’ve got an edge straight away,” Kyrgios said.

“If it gets in Rafa’s head, then it’s a success.”

Nadal branded Kyrgios “dangerous” after the Aussie thundered a ferocious forehand right at the body of the 19-time grand slam winner when he was at the net during their clash at the All England club last July.

Nadal had previously questioned Kyrgios’s attitude and said he “lacks respect for the crowd, his opponent and towards himself”.

In response, Kyrgios said: “He doesn’t know the journey I’ve been through. He doesn’t know anything about me so I’m not going to listen at all”.

Even if he doesn’t stand on the opposite side of the court to Nadal should Spain overcome Belgium, it should make for interesting viewing watching Kyrgios cheer de Minaur on from the special vantage points the teams are given in the corner at the ATP Cup.