Nick Kyrgios is backed by Rafael Nadal’s uncle after Tsitsipas antics at Wimbledon

Nick Kyrgios finds support in the most unlikely of places as Rafael Nadal’s uncle sticks up for the Aussie and says Stefanos Tsitsipas was the problem in their spiteful match

  • Nick Kyrgios has won the support of Rafael Nadal’s uncle and mentor, Toni 
  • The Australian’s bitter match with Stefanos Tsitipas has divided opinion in tennis 
  • Kyrgios was labelled ‘evil’ and ‘a bully’ by his Greek rival after Saturday’s match
  • However, Toni Nadal says Tsitsipas only has himself to blame for his defeat 

If things go according to plan, Nick Kyrgios is destined to take on the all-conquering Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of Wimbledon this year.

And in an unlikely twist, the Australian has won the support of the Spaniard’s uncle and mentor, Toni, amid his divisive and combative journey to the quarter finals of this year’s competition. 

Kyrgios put in a gutsy performance to come through a five-set slugfest against America’s Brandon Nakashima on Monday, with the 27-year-old’s fashion decisions causing more controversy than any antics on the court. 

Nick Kyrgios has found support from an unlikely source after his bitter clash on Saturday

It represented a soothing tonic from the bitter clash between Kyrgios and Greek rival Stefanos Tsitsipas in their Saturday night blockbuster on Court 1, where tempers flared between the two rivals. 

Kyrgios labelled the umpire a ‘disgrace’ for failing to kick the No 4 seed out for hitting a ball into the crowd in frustration, and was constantly at odds with the line judges. He also received a warning for obscene language during the match.

In the aftermath of his four set victory, Kyrgios was labelled a ‘bully’ and ‘evil’ by Tsitsipas – an outburst that baffled the 27-year-old. 

The Australian's antics against Stefanos Tsitsipas stirred controversy in their fourth round tie

The Australian’s antics against Stefanos Tsitsipas stirred controversy in their fourth round tie

Tsitsipas (left) labelled Kyrgios (right) 'evil' and 'a bully' after he was knocked out in four sets

Tsitsipas (left) labelled Kyrgios (right) ‘evil’ and ‘a bully’ after he was knocked out in four sets

However, Toni Nadal has leapt to the defence of Kyrgios, claiming that while the Australian is ‘annoying’, Tsitsipas was not blameless for his defeat on Saturday night.   

‘On some occasions, I have been critical of the Australian as a result of his rudeness, his unsportsmanlike attitudes, his recurrent outbursts or his unfortunate comments,’ Toni Nadal wrote in an opinion piece for Spanish site Noticiero.lat, via News Corp.

‘On this occasion, however, I think the blunder … is attributable to the Greek.

However, Toni Nadal has insisted that the Greek is not entirely blameless for his defeat

However, Toni Nadal has insisted that the Greek is not entirely blameless for his defeat

‘It is true that Kyrgios is too annoying, provocative and that he can easily drive his opponents out of their mind. However, I was greatly surprised Tsitsipas couldn’t deal with those situations.

‘It is clear that Tsitsipas acted to his own detriment, lacking in the habit of dealing with those situations in which a player feels … unable to control his emotions and his nervousness.’

Kyrgios will take on Chile’s Cristian Garín for a place in the semi-final on Wednesday, where he will take on either Nadal or No 11 seed Taylor Fritz.  

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