Boris Becker's remarkable spat with the tennis bully
Two people who love to hear each other talk: Boris Becker and Nick Kyrgios have been having a heated argument on social media for days. The tennis icon rages because the enfant terrible of the scene provokes. In the end, the verdict is: advantage Becker.
The poisoned arrows flew back and forth between the icon and the bad boy - it was all about recognition, respect and self-reflection. Boris Becker and Nick Kyrgios engaged in a remarkable exchange of blows on social media for almost a week. In the end, it was even enough for the Australian, who had previously attacked Becker personally.
"Obviously a slam finalist has no credibility. Good night, done with this conversation," wrote the 28-year-old from Canberra, who had started the social media duel with provocative statements. Becker's famous fighting spirit was quickly awakened.
What had happened? It all began with a controversial interview by Kyrgios, in which he revealed an idiosyncratic view of the former heroes of his sport. "The game was slow back then," Kyrgios told "The Athletic", adding that he had also watched matches by Becker. "And I'm not saying they weren't good in their day. But to say they'd be just as good today is absurd," said Kyrgios: "It's a completely different game."
Becker: "Just say thank you out loud"
According to Kyrgios, record Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic would also easily beat players like 14-time major winner Pete Sampras. "Djokovic would destroy him, eat him alive," said the 2022 Wimbledon finalist. Statements that Becker did not want to let stand so easily.
He first responded via X and then used the Eurosport podcast "Das Gelbe vom Ball" for another reply. "We live in a democracy. Everyone can think what they want," said Becker. But the six-time Grand Slam winner wanted to set the record straight. Among other things, he referred to the developments in rackets, shoes, new findings in terms of training theory or nutrition, which were not available to the generation at the time.
Above all, however, Becker was concerned with respect. "There has never been so much prize money, never so much publicity as there is today," said the 56-year-old, who is back on the tour as Holger Rune's coach. The legends had made it possible for Kyrgios "not to play tennis at all this year and still be able to make a living from tennis."
It is important to have "respect for the past" and "just say thank you out loud", Becker added. Kyrgios countered that he had millions of fans and had created his own economic basis. "I've beaten Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray," wrote the Australian. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that Djokovic would have dispatched a Boris Becker in his prime.
"That's not an attack. These are just facts," said Kyrgios and also answered the question of credibility with reference to Becker's prison sentence: as far as he knew, Becker was the one who had hidden assets. Nevertheless, the decisive points in the duel went to Becker.
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In the midst of their online feud, Nick Kyrgios acknowledged that Boris Becker, despite his past successes, might struggle against modern players like Novak Djokovic. Becker, in response, emphasized the importance of respecting the past achievements of tennis legends and expressed gratitude for the opportunities they had paved the way for current players.
Source: www.ntv.de
