New Zealand player calls Nick Kyrgios an ‘absolute knot’ after losing his doubles match to an Australian pair | Australian Open 2022

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Kiwi doubles player Michael Venus has unleashed Australian Open viewers and Nick Kyrgios, calling the Australian an immature “absolute hurdle” after losing in the quarter-finals to the “Special Ks”.

Venus and Germany’s Tim Puetz fell in three sets to Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokinakis on Tuesday at Kia Arena, as a rowdy crowd backed the entire Australian partnership that held them back for vocal fans.

Venus, 34, said Wednesday that sledding from the crowd was sometimes unbearable, and some spectators made comments about him and his family as he prepared for service.

“It felt like a circus outside, not a tennis match,” Venus told New Zealand TV 1News.

“Between meals [they were] Impress the crowd and make them cheer at such times. I really don’t think so.

“You know if it’s on the other foot, old man buddy [Kyrgios] He would flip his lid. He really went crazy there himself. It’s amazing, he can smash a ball that hits a kid and ’cause he gave them a racket after that, people can say he’s a good guy.”

The tension on the field between Venus and Kyrgios, in particular, was noticeable and both had words to each other and judged perceived injustice. Kyrgios also mocked the wayward ball’s sometimes tossing Venus.

Venus said Wednesday that Kyrgios supporters have messaged him on social media “a tremendous amount” but there have also been “a lot of messages from other people saying how embarrassed they are about the behavior of the crowd and they are sorry, it shouldn’t have been like this.”

“They’ll always be his fans and he’ll always spin it in a way that helps him but at the end of the day, he’s just an absolute knot,” Venus said.

“In terms of maturity, you see why he never achieved his potential and probably never will. His level of maturity, probably decent for a 10-year-old, to say he is about that level.”

The New Zealander admitted that Kyrgios was a “fantastic tennis player” with “amazing” intelligence on the court.

Kyrgios, ranked 115th in the world, has yet to respond to the criticism.

Kyrgios and Kokinakis play Thursday’s semi-final match against Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos at Rod Laver Arena after tournament director Craig Tiley announced they had been moved to Center Court due to their popularity.

“We will actually be moving the Special Ks from the Kia Arena to Rod Laver Stadium,” Tiley told host broadcaster, The Nine Network, on Wednesday.

Tilley also said any spectator carrying a ground pass would be able to make it to Rod Laver Arena to watch the duo and stay in to watch new Australian player Dylan Alcott play in the men’s four-way singles final against Dutchman Sam Schroeder. It will be the final in Alcott’s career.

“We want to make Dylan’s match the most watched wheelchair tennis match in game history tomorrow afternoon,” Tilley said.

The Victorian Sports Minister, Martin Bakula, said on Twitter on Wednesday that crowd capacity, currently set at 50% for the tournament, would rise to 65% for the finals.

“Breaking myself enforcing the Twitter hiatus (which I will return to – it is my pleasure) to report that the Chief Health Officer has agreed to increase ticket capacity at the Australian Open to 65% for the remainder of the tournament,” he wrote.

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