HomeNEWS SPORTSNick Kyrgios takes aim at Tennis Australia in furious social media post after court issues – Express
Nick Kyrgios takes aim at Tennis Australia in furious social media post after court issues – Express
Nick Kyrgios has blasted Tennis Australia after claiming he was unable to secure a court at the 'world's biggest tennis academy' in Melbourne with doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis. Ahead of the Japan Open in Tokyo, the world number 20 arrived at Melbourne Park and to his surprise, said there were no courts available for him and his friend to use.
"@tennisaustralia Here for a day of training in Melbourne and unable to get a court," Kyrgios fumed on Instagram. "NOTHING HAS CHANGED. When are you going to start prioritising players????"
It is unknown whether Tennis Australia have responded to Kyrgios' complaints, but right now they have their hands full with the upcoming National Junior Championships in Adelaide, Melbourne and Wodonga over the next few months. The series of tournaments will begin with the the Australian Junior Hardcourt Championships which commenced this week, and will conclude with the Australian Junior Grasscourt Championships for under-12 and under-14 competitors – which will be contested next January in Wodonga, Victoria.
The Australian Junior Claycourt Championships were held earlier in the year in Canberra. "National junior championships are a great way for younger up-and-coming players to come together, and gain experience competing against some of the best other young players in the country in a fun and organised environment," said Australian Championships Tournament Director Francis Soyer.
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"It's also very important for junior development to offer multiple opportunities for young players to gain experience competing on different surfaces." Tennis Australia is also working with the government to provide more opportunities for women and girls throughout the pacific to learn and grow through tennis.
The four-year program is part of the PacificAus Sports Pacific Women Sport Administration Program (PWSAP) which is investing in female sport leaders, officials, and administrators in rugby union, netball and now tennis in the Pacific. The aim is for higher participation in tennis for women and girls in the region along with an increase in the number of women in leadership roles, improved access to safe and inclusive sporting competitions and stronger governance and administration of Pacific women's sport organisations. "Australians and people across the Pacific share a love of sport," said Pat Conroy, Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific.
"We are all looking forward to seeing more women and girls in Pacific Island countries playing tennis – including at an elite level. I'm confident there's a lot of untapped talent in the Pacific, when it comes to women and girls playing tennis and participating at all levels of the game. The Australian Government is please to support this program, which will allow this talent to shine."
DON'T MISS Kyrgios meanwhile, recently responded after Stefanos Tsitsipas called him out and challenged him to a rematch after the Aussie beat the Greek star in the third round of Wimbledon this summer. "Nick Kyrgios, I challenge you to come here [and] we play a rematch," he said on tennis Channel's Instagram while in Costa Navarino. "Mr Kyrgios, please come to Costa Navarino. I'd like a revenge match. And no talking this time."
Kyrgios proved he was more than up for it as he reposted the video to his Instagram story and asked his rival to clarify a few things about the rematch. "DONE," he wrote. "Let's get this REVENGE MATCH GOING…. When and where and how much," he asked.
After defeating Tsitsipas at Wimbledon, Kyrgios went on to make the final, the best grand slam result of his career. He has enjoyed the best season of his career this year, winning the doubles title at the Australian Open, his seventh singles title in Washington, and the doubles titles in both Atlanta and Washington.
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