Nick Kyrgios has refused a challenge from Aussie compatriot Bernard Tomic as they engaged in a bitter spat.
The pair took to Instagram and exchanged barbs while the 29-year-old made a proposal to the Australian Open doubles champion. "At the end of the day, talk is cheap," Tomic told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"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."
"I'll dominate you one-on-one," he added. "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, who lost his only meeting with Tomic at the Kooyong classic 6-3 6-4 in 2019, fired back and told the former world number 17 they can settle their score on the ATP tour. "I'm still playing on the tour, my brother. I've got bigger fish to fry," the world number 76 said in an Instagram video.
"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. 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.”
Tomic even suggested the pair could clash in a boxing ring, to which Kyrgios added: "Maybe one day my brother we can later on when my career winds down." He continued: "But I’m too occupied at the moment bro, preparing for tournaments like Wimbledon and stuff.”
Tomic is currently playing on the challenger tour as he bids to return to the ATP. The last three years have been tricky for Tomic, whose ranking plummeted after a loss of form. After starting 2019 ranked 83, he finished the year down at 185.
Tomic only played one ATP tournament in 2020 at the Delray Beach Open and after the COVID-19 pandemic suspended tennis in March, Tomic decided to stay inactive for the rest of the year even when tennis returned in August.
He finished as low as 260 in 2021 and this past March at the Monterrey Challenger, Tomic recorded his first match win at any level since the qualifying rounds of 2021 Wimbledon. Kyrgios meanwhile, has not played since early April when he was defeated in the semi-finals of the Houston ATP 250 event by Reilly Opelka, who went on to win the event.
