Kyrgios launches fiery Twitter tirade at critics

Nick Kyrgios has taken aim at sporting identities Roger Rasheed and Gerard Healy in a stunning social media spray on Wednesday evening.

The Aussie went down to Canadian 16th seed Milos Raonic in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday night, before engaging in a bizarre press conference after the match.

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Much of that focused on questions about fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic’s explosive rant directed at Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

On Wednesday, however, Kyrgios’ hit out at Rasheed and Healy after criticism from the pair on Melbourne radio.

Rasheed, an acclaimed coach and commentator, was a guest on 3AW’s Sportsday programme where Healy took aim at Kyrios, as well as Tomic and their Aussie compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis – all first round losers at the Australian Open.

“How can we have three men come through the system and each one of them should be in the top 20 or 30 in the world and have the most appalling footwork of anybody,” former AFL star and media personality Healy said.

“You don’t need talent for footwork, all you just need is good coaching and good discipline.”

Rasheed seemed to agree and suggested the Aussies weren’t putting in enough effort on the practice courts to maximise their full potential.

A fuming Kyrgios took umbrage to the comments and social media – launching a stunning broadside at both Healy and Rasheed.

Kyrgios’ war of words on social media came after Tomic dropped a grenade on Australian tennis on Monday night with claims that not only he but Kyrgios and Kokkinakis no longer want to play Davis Cup under Hewitt.

“He’s ruined the system,” Tomic said after his first-round Australian Open loss to Marin Cilic.

Kyrgios was asked what he made of Tomic’s comments on Tuesday night after his straight-sets loss to Milos Raonic, delivering a bizarre response that didn’t do much to shut down the allegations.

Kyrgios claimed he didn’t see Tomic’s comments, and replied “not really” when asked if there was a rift between himself and Hewitt.

When the reporter responded “not really?”, Kyrgios said “is there an echo in here?”

“Bernard named you and Kokkinakis as both having told him that you don’t want to play while Lleyton is captain. How do you respond to that?” the reporter continued.

“I don’t know what to say. Like, I don’t have a big deal with anything,” replied Kyrgios.

“I’ve always wanted to play Davis Cup. I love Davis Cup. If I don’t play, I don’t play. Like, I’m available. That’s all I got to say. Like, what do you want from me?”

Kokkinakis also did little to douse the flames when he declined to endorse the skipper after his first-round retirement against Taro Daniel – which he partially blamed on a gruelling qualifying campaign after being overlooked by Hewitt for an Open wildcard nomination.

“I”m not answering that,” Kokkinakis said when asked if he supported Hewitt staying on as Cup captain for Australia’s qualifying tie next month in Adelaide against Bosnia and Herzegovina.