July

Watch: Kyrgios Taunts Djokovic

Nick Kyrgios scrawled the latest shot in his feud with Novak Djokovic in a taunting t-shirt message.Asked by a young fan in Atlanta to sign his shirt, Kyrgios X'd out the name "Novak" across the front of the shirt while sending a message to the world No. 1.Watch: Tsitsipas Goes Unplugged "That's what I think of you and your shirt," Kyrgios said. "Gone."


Prior to Djokovic defeating Roger Federer in the longest Wimbledon final in history, Kyrgios made it clear who he supported. In May, Kyrgios gave a rare, even-more-candid-than-usual interview to Ben Rothenberg of the New York Times for Rothenberg’s tennis podcast, “No Challenges Remaining,” and the Aussie did not hesitate to speak his mind about the game’s top players“I just feel like he has a sick obsession of wanting to be liked,” Kyrgios said of Djokovic. “For me personally I feel like he just wants to be liked so much I just can’t stand him."Like this whole celebration thing that he does after the match it’s like so cringe-worthy, very cringe-worthy.”

Kyrgios then switched course, showing a bit of deference before he got back to ripping the Serb.“He’s a champion of the sport, one of the greatest we will ever see. Honestly I think he will get the Grand Slam count—I think he will overpass Federer.”
Though Kyrgios has been publicly critical, ATP Player Council President Djokovic said he's never discussed his issues privately with the world No. 1.Still, Djokovic said Kyrgios' criticism is "not something that keeps me awake at night.""No, absolutely not, everything is at the level of communication through the public," Djokovic told the Serbian media last month when asked if the pair had spoken privately. "I really tried my life to respect everyone and I did not have anyone like that …"Let's say the problem, though, it's not something that keeps me awake at night, as the English say."This isn't the first time Kyrgios has turned to t-shirt statements.After a 2017 exo, he wore this t-shirt bearing an image of U.S. President Donald Trump and the slogan "F–k Donald Trump."
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Chris Oddo

Chris Oddo is a freelance sportswriter, podcaster, blogger and social media marker who is a lead contributor to Tennisnow.com. He also writes for USOpen.org, Rolandgarros.com, BNPParibasOpen.com, TennisTV.com, WTAtennis.com and the official US Open program.

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