Andy Roddick picked his moment to strike back at ‘hypocrite’ Nick Kyrgios – and hit him where it hurts
Former world No 1 Andy Roddick thought long and hard before offering up his opinion on Nick Kygrios’ latest attacks on Jannik Sinner – and then delivered the most stinging blow imaginable.
Outspoken Australian Kyrgios has been the most outspoken critic of Sinner since he failed two drug tests last March and escaped a suspension after proving he was not at fault for having a banned anabolic steroid in his system.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have appealed against that verdict and are pushing for a one to a two-year ban for Sinner in a case that will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport later this year.
Kyrgios has sustained increasingly nasty brutal attacks on Sinner and anyone who dares to show any kind of respect to the world No 1, with his messages trolling teenager Cruz Hewitt – son of former world No 1 Lleyton – after he took a chance to hit with Sinner in Melbourne earlier this week a new low.
The Aussie came under fire for his criticism of the 16-year-old, with Roddick suggesting it was evidence that the 2022 Wimbledon finalists was now little more than an ‘influencer’ seeking out likes and hits on social media platforms.
As if that snipe was not cutting enough, Roddick’s segment in the latest episode of his always-entertaining Served podcast was loaded with animosity from a former champion who has clearly done his best to avoid giving Kyrgios the attention and publicity he is craving.
Yet when he decided the time was right to have his say, he didn’t hold back as he offered up this cutting takedown.
“At this point he is a tennis influencer. He lives for likes, he lives in the comments section,” stated Roddick.
“What I have an issue with is the hypocrisy with which he picks and chooses when to levy judgement on others while also wanting you to digest the context of his comments – the latest being towards Cruz Hewitt, who practiced with Jannik Sinner.
“Kyrgios has been the single most outspoken critic of Jannik Sinner on the heels of his failed doping test. So Cruz Hewitt is 16 years old, son of Lleyton and the toughest competitor that I have ever played in my life, gets to hit with a guy who is number one in the world at the Australian Open. That is a big deal.
“Imagine as an almost 30-year-old man, going into the comments of a 16-year-old who is the best player in the world. If you think he is guilty or not guilty, it’s still a moment when you get to do that.
“That’s a big moment and to simply post a picture and then have this guy go into the comments and make it all about himself. ‘I thought we were bros’.
“The defence was all made that it was a joke. The lack of awareness you have with bringing trolls and all of the worst of tennis fandom into a 16-year-old’s comments is ridiculous. It’s ridiculous.”
Roddick went on to suggest Kyrgios was in no position to comment on morals after he pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge back in 2023.
A Canberra judge dismissed the common assault charge brought against Kyrgios despite the tennis player entering a guilty plea.
During the trial, the Australian Capital Territory Magistrates Court heard expert testimony from a psychologist who attested to Kyrgios’ past mental health problems for which he has sought treatment and seen an improvement.
The court heard how Kyrgios pushed his former girlfriend to the ground during the course of a heated argument back in January 2021, with Roddick suggesting that courtroom appearance should put some perspective on the Aussie’s attempt to emerge as a credible role model.
“When you have moments in your life that aren’t the best. When you’ve pleaded guilty to physically assaulting your girlfriend, but you want people to understand the context,” opined Roddick.
“You wanted people to understand your moment in time and life that didn’t make this acceptable but at least maybe say ‘this isn’t who I am, this isn’t what I do – I’m not an abuser even though I plead guilty to abuse.’
“It’s just hypocritical. It’s purely hypocritical.”
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Roddick also questioned if broadcasters continue to hire Krygios despite that courtroom plea and predictably, it didn’t take long for the Aussie to respond, as he took to X to accuse Roddick of sweeping the Sinner story under the carpet and labelled him a ‘sheep’.
It’s all pretty childish stuff and that is one of the reasons why Roddick was keen to take the moral high ground not entertain a war of words with a character who trades in insults and lives for the chaos he creates.
Kyrgios may be wise to take the advice of 17-time Grand Slam doubles champion Mark Woodforde, after he suggested the time had come for the player who has been out of action on a tennis court for so long to focus on winning matches once again.
“I hope that he can get back and let his racket do the talking on court instead of coming up with these big comments,” began Woodforde, speaking exclusively to Tennis365.
“I think he has divided some of the players with the comments he has made about Sinner and it has put a big target on his back.
“It’s pretty brave to come up with these statements, but we don’t know how he is going to do as he has been away from tennis for so long.
“We saw him at some of the exhibitions in the latter part of this year, but that doesn’t give you any insight into how he’s going to play in competitive matches.”
Tennis is already dealing with enough negativity as Sinner awaits the verdict of his WADA hearing and Krygios is not helping the sport as he desperately tries to promote himself as a hero for all that is good in tennis.
His chequered past makes it tough for Krygios to hold the moral high ground, but his desire to attract headlines will ensure he continues to pedal his unpleasant and venomous agenda.
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