Nick Kyrgios called Bernard Tomic the ‘most hated athlete in Australia’ as a feud between the pair reignited on Thursday.
Thw two started out as friends and Davis Cup teammates but fell out a few years ago.
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On Wednesday, Tomic said he was Kyrgios’ ‘idol’ when the players made their way through the tennis ranks.
“He’s always been in my shadow growing up,” said the 29-year-old Tomic, who had reached a career high of 17 in 2016.
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His game has collapsed in recent years after a series of controversies and is now ranked 418th in the world.
“That’s why any time someone mentions my name to him, it gets under his skin,” he added.
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“He knows he can’t rewrite history. The records that I set when I was 16, 17, 18, and 19 — youngest Slam quarter-finalist at Wimbledon (in 2011, since Boris Becker), the biggest tournament in the world.”
In reply, Kyrgios told Tomic to “quiet down” while boasting that he had “more money, more wins” than his compatriot.
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Kyrgios, ranked 76th, took to Instagram to share more thoughts on Thursday.
“HAHA TOMIC let’s not forget the time I paid for your flight home from Shanghai because you had no money,” Kyrgios said.
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“Hahahaha rewrite history, you are the most HATED athlete in Australia. You are right, no one can take over that.”
Kyrgios then posted a screenshot of Tomic’s recent results, adding: “Bernard, I didn’t realise it was this bad.
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“Hit me up if you need me to help you remember how to play. Geezus.”
Neither player is at the French Open in Paris but both are looking to contest next month’s Wimbledon.
