Nick Kyrgios has ‘bigger fish to fry’ after Bernard Tomic challenges him ‘sort this out in the boxing ring’

Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios at a post-match press interview

There won’t be a Nick Kyrgios v Bernard Tomic boxing match, well not in the near future, as the former has “bigger fish to fry” than stepping into the ring.

The Australian enfants terribles have traded online barbs in recent months, but things escalated on Thursday when Tomic joked that he was Kyrgios’ “idol” and his compatriot has “always been in my shadows growing up”.

Kyrgios then hit back as he called the former teen prodigy “the most hated athlete in Australia”.

Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic reignite bitter war of words

On Friday morning Tomic took to the Sydney Morning Herald to challenge the 27-year-old to a boxing match.

“At the end of the day, talk is cheap,” he said. “I’m ready to make it 2-0 whenever you want. Put your money where your mouth is.

“Let the public decide who is better. I’ll beat you anywhere, any place. If not, shut your mouth and go back to playing doubles.

He added: “I’ll dominate you one-on-one. To not make excuses, I’ll even play you on grass, whenever you want.

“You know what? Let’s sort this out in the boxing ring. Put your gloves on, I’ll dominate you there also. Let’s see who’s better once and for all.”

Kyrgios, though, is not interested in taking on his compatriot in the boxing ring as he is busy training for the grass-court season, but he says he would be happy to play Tomic on the Tour, should they ever meet again.

“I’m just going to give you a quick video to kill this Bernard Tomic v Nick Kyrgios type talk,” he said in an Instagram Story.

“I woke up this morning and I saw he challenged me to a boxing match, put your money where your mouth is or accept that I am better.

“Big T, I’m still playing on the tour, my brother. I’ve got bigger fish to fry. I am actually in a grass-court training block right now preparing for tournaments. Wimbledon and then US Open swing.

“I understand you’re at that Future and Challenger level right now but if you want to play me and you want to set this straight, just get back to the top of the sport. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere. I still feel that I’m elite. I’m still beating some of the best in the world quite easily.

“So I’ll be waiting for you and if you’re capable of playing a decent level of tennis, you’ll show that. There’s no need to go through the media (and) use my name to get relevant again. Let’s just see your results, stop living in the past and let’s play each other on the main tour.”

Bernard Tomic Nick Kyrgios

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