Nick Kyrgios bites back after world No.3's 'cheap' attack

Nick Krygios has continued his attack on fellow tennis pros who have shown a less than rigorous approach to preventing outbreaks of the coronavirus, with world No.3 Dominic Thiem the latest in his sights.

After publicly condemning the likes of Novak Djokovic and Alexander Sverev, Kyrgios’ no-nonsense approach the the virus has won him plenty of fans - but Thiem evidently wasn’t one of them.

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The Austrian star accused Kyrgios of levelling ‘cheap’ criticism at Djokovic and others in the wake of the ill-fated Adria Tour last month.

In an interview with Austrian outlet Tiroler Tageszeitung, Thiem said Kyrgios’ time would be better spent adjusting his own on-court behaviour.

“Kyrgios has built a lot of nonsense himself,” he said.

“I understand even less when he interferes with everything.

“It would be better if he came to terms with himself rather than always criticising the others.”

Thiem later went on to defend Zverev for his ‘mistake’ in attending a party hours after Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19, saying criticism of both players was ‘cheap’.

“But it is the same as with Zverev: I do not understand why so many shoot at Novak Djokovic. He didn’t break a law. You have to say that clearly,” Thiem said.

“He didn’t do anything. If I ignore our role model function - where we made mistakes — I don’t understand the criticism of us.

“And then hit Djokovic like this? It’s too cheap for me.”

Nick Kyrgios claps back at Dominic Thiem

Kyrgios has never been one to take such criticism lying down though, taking to Twitter to return serve at Thiem.

The irate 24-year-old said Thiem’s attitude reflected how the top flight of tennis either didn’t understand the seriousness of the coronavirus, or didn’t care to.

Kyrgios his own controversial antics on court paled in comparison to a lax attitude towards a potentially deadly virus.

“What are you talking about @ThiemDomi,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.

“Mistakes like smashing rackets? Swearing? Tanking a few matches here or there? Which everyone does?

“None of you have the intellectual level to even understand where I’m coming from. I’m trying to hold them accountable.”

Kyrgios later took aim at all three players for refusing to lead the way with their actions.

“This just shows what a joke @ThiemDomi @AlexZverev & @DjokerNole think this is,” he said.