Nick Kyrgios Faces Backlash for Disparaging Comment About Ex-Girlfriend and Sinner Girl friend Anna Kalinskaya

Nick Kyrgios, often at the center of controversy, has once again found himself in hot water after making a derogatory comment about his ex-girlfriend, Anna Kalinskaya, who is currently dating Italian tennis star and US Open finalist Jannik Sinner.

On September 7, a fan shared a throwback tweet featuring a photo of Kyrgios and Kalinskaya from their time as a couple between 2019 and 2020. In response, Kyrgios commented “Second serve,” which was widely seen as a slight against Kalinskaya, and the comment sparked immediate outrage across social media.

Many tennis fans and commentators quickly condemned Kyrgios’ remark. Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg expressed his disapproval on Twitter, writing: “Disgusting, Kyrgios continues to show his true nature. Honestly a bit surprised to see ESPN didn’t yank Nick Kyrgios off air mid-#USOpen final, seeing his most recent disparaging tweet about a WTA player circulating. Given his history of demeaning women, women’s tennis, and WTA players, it was already a dubious choice to have him on.”

Other tennis fans echoed similar sentiments, questioning Kyrgios’ continued presence in tennis commentary. One fan tweeted, “Imagine calling your ex-girlfriend ‘second serve’ on social media just because you are insecure & sick in the head. And ppl want us to believe his issue with Sinner is just about the doping scandal and he has no axe to grind here.”

Kyrgios’ ex-girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya is currently dating Jannik Sinner, an Italian tennis star who recently made headlines after reaching the US Open finals. However, Sinner faced his own controversy earlier in 2024 after failing two drug tests in March. He avoided suspension when it was determined that the banned substance, Clostebol, had unintentionally entered his system, as reported by the Associated Press. Despite the scandal, Sinner has maintained a strong performance on the court.

Kyrgios, who is currently inactive in professional tennis, is known for his colorful and often controversial personality. Dubbed the “bad boy of tennis” by Sports Illustrated, Kyrgios has been involved in numerous public incidents throughout his career, ranging from on-court outbursts to confrontations with fans and opponents. Despite his absence from the competitive scene, he has been working as a commentator during the 2024 US Open, which only added fuel to the fire after his comment about Kalinskaya went viral.

Following the backlash, Kyrgios took to Twitter to defend himself. He downplayed the outrage surrounding his comment, stating, “Don’t you think it’s hilarious how quickly people get triggered with a couple words, or emojis.. Too much power.” He followed this up with another tweet, further defending his actions: “Right… so I’m the one that’s the bad guy for saying something about it? I never brought it up lol don’t take offense if people are gonna bring it up. Simple.”

Kyrgios also responded to fans who questioned ESPN’s decision to feature him as a commentator during the US Open, replying, “Yep, one of handful of players that have beaten all the greatest players – and I enjoy watching and breaking down the WTA tour as well. Excited for the finals.”

This is not the first time Kyrgios has found himself embroiled in controversy for his remarks, particularly regarding women in tennis. Throughout his career, he has been criticized for his behavior toward fellow players, including disparaging comments about women’s tennis and various WTA players. This latest incident has only reignited the debate about whether Kyrgios, with his history of volatile and often offensive behavior, is suited for roles in commentary and media.

Despite the criticisms, Kyrgios continues to assert his place in tennis, both as a former top player and now as a commentator. He has not yet apologized for his remarks, and it remains to be seen whether ESPN will take any action in response to the backlash.

Kyrgios, 29, is currently dating influencer Costeen Hatzi, with whom he has shared numerous posts on social media. Despite his relationship with Hatzi, his comment about Kalinskaya has stirred up fresh criticism, with many fans questioning his maturity and professionalism.

Whether this controversy will have any long-term impact on Kyrgios’ media presence or tennis career remains uncertain, but his history of controversy suggests that he is unlikely to stay out of the headlines for long. With his career in tennis commentary now under scrutiny, Kyrgios’ next move will likely be closely watched by fans and critics alike.