Roger Federer’s strong words for Nick Kyrgios

ROGER Federer has weighed into the crude sledging controversy surrounding Australian tennis brat Nick Kyrgios.

in their second round match during day five of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 6, 2015 in Madrid, Spain.

ROGER Federer has weighed into the crude sledging controversy surrounding Australian tennis brat Nick Kyrgios.

In strong comments ahead of his attempt at a record seventh Cincinnati Masters crown, the Swiss legend said the game could not afford to tolerate Kyrgios’ behaviour and that the ATP needed to “come down hard” on the 20-year-old.

“We all agree that he definitely crossed the line by a long shot,” Federer said, as quoted by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“We’re not used to that kind of talk in tennis. I know in other sports it’s quite common, maybe normal. Not in our sport, really.

“It’s normal that the tour comes down hard on him and explains to him that it’s not the way forward.”

Kyrgios was fined $10,000 by the ATP, and further punishment may still be forthcoming, after he said to world No. 5 Stan Wawinka during a match last week: “[Thanasi] Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate.”

Federer, who is Davis Cup teammates with Wawrinka, said the controversy was “not great for the sport, one that I think many players have tried to build up and make it a good image, build up a good image”.

The 17-time grand slam champion added: “We want kids to be wanting to get into this sport because it’s a nice sport.”

Federer believes the ATP should “come down hard” on Kyrgios.

Kokkinakis has told his Davis Cup teammate Kyrgios he was out of order dragging him into his on-court verbal stoush with Wawrinka at the Montreal Masters.

In an interview with Fox Sports, Kokkinakis said yesterday that Kyrgios had apologised.

“I let him know. I made it pretty clear that he can’t be doing that. If he’s got a problem, he’s got to say it in private,” Kokkinakis said.

“The way he went about it definitely wasn’t the right thing.”

Kokkinakis said he had endured a number of sleepless nights since, but had now cleared the air with Wawrinka and Donna Vekic, the young woman unwittingly caught in the middle of the saga.

Kyrgios’ sledge also drew a strong reaction in the women’s game, led by WTA Tour chairman Stacey Allaster and broadcaster Pam Shriver.

“The statement made by Nick Kyrgios is crude and unacceptable,” Allaster said.

Added Shriver: “Channel your inner Laver, Rosewell, Roche, Rafter. Bring the class again.”

The situation worsened over the weekend when Kokkinakis almost came to blows with Ryan Harrison in qualifying for the Cincinnati Masters.

Kokkinakis was agitated by a pair of call overrules by the umpire in 23-year-old Harrison’s favour, pressing his complaints to annoy the American who railed about these “new age little kids”.

“They are going to get hurt,” Harrison said. “(Kokkinakis) is 19. If he wants to get into it, I will bury him. Wawrinka should have decked Kyrgios and I should deck that kid.”