Rising Aussie tennis stars ‘losing the plot’

Media slams antics of the Kyrgios, Kokkinakis and Tomic trio.

SYDNEY: Australia’s rising tennis stars are fast earning a reputation as the new brats of the sport with recent antics sparking stinging criticism and calls to change their ways.

Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, leaving Australian media to ask: “Are the trio of stars losing the plot because they are young, stupid or victims of their own poor judgement?”

Kyrgios has been the chief culprit, picked up by on-court microphones telling Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka that “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend” in an on-court sledge at the Rogers Cup in Montreal last week that infuriated the Swiss star.

The 20-year-old Kyrgios was fined US$12,500 by the ATP Tour, which launched an investigation into the remark which could result in further action against him.

“The problem with the type of venomous poison Nick Kyrgios spewed last week is that it spreads like a cancer, entangling and embroiling others in its vitriol,” wrote The Australian newspaper’s Courtney Walsh.

He was referring to Kokkinakis almost coming to blows with Ryan Harrison in qualifying for the Cincinnati Masters at the weekend.

Kokkinakis has not been in trouble before and moved to distance himself from the Kyrgios controversy, slamming his friend for drawing him into it.

At Wimbledon this year, Kyrgios was accused of “tanking”, and he also argued with umpires and gave sarcastic answers at press conferences.

While some see his behaviour as petulant and disrespectful, others view his colourful antics as good for a sport in need of characters, although he is not the only Australian to raise hackles.

Tomic, 22, has endured a turbulent career, and was most recently in the headlines over his arrest in Miami last month for failing to follow police orders over a raucous penthouse party.

While Australia boasts a rich history of quality players, including Rod Laver, Ken Rosewell, Pat Rafter and Margaret Court, Lleyton Hewitt was also a loose cannon in his youth, once labelling match officials at the French Open “spastic”.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th,  2015.

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