Kiwi tennis player Michael Venus has savaged Nick Kyrgios, after he and German partner Tim Pütz were knocked out of the Australian Open doubles draw by Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Venus and Pütz, respectively the World No. 15 and No. 18 on the ATP doubles rankings, lost 5-7 6-3 3-6 in front of a pulsating Kia Arena crowd on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old, who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics with countryman Marcus Daniell, was unsettled by the raucous home fans.
“You know if it’s on the other foot, old mate would have flipped his lid,” Venus spat on New Zealand broadcaster 1News.
“He already did get mad there by himself. It’s amazing, he can smash a ball out that hits a kid and just because he gives them a racquet afterwards, people can say he’s such a good guy.”
After Venus repeatedly caught his ball toss during service games, Kyrgios lost patience and began to mock his action, to the delight of the crowd.
“On the maturity side, you see why he’s never fulfilled his potential and probably never will,” Venus seethed.
“His maturity level, it’s probably being generous (to say) about a 10-year-old, it’s at about that level.”
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have revelled in the atmosphere they have built over four consecutive victories.
“I haven’t played in a doubles match, even a singles match, with an atmosphere like this,” Kokkinakis exclaimed in the pair’s on-court interview after the victory.
“Hopefully Craig (Tiley) is watching and keeps us on this court. The rowdier, the better from everyone, honestly.
“Sink piss and come here.”
The Kiwi’s experience wasn’t over when he walked off the court and out of the tournament, however.
“The amount of messages I got from people (on social media was) an extreme amount,” Venus revealed.
“Way, way more than I’ve ever had, but then there were a lot of messages from people saying how embarrassed they were with the crowd’s behaviour and that they’re sorry, it shouldn’t have been like that.
“Any time you were going back to get the balls to serve, people are making comments about yourself, your family.
“They’ll always be his supporters and he’ll spin it in a way that helps him but at the end of the day he’s an absolute knob.”