Nick Kyrgios has found himself at the center of yet another social media controversy, this time facing allegations of misogyny. The latest uproar began after Kyrgios responded to a social media post that appeared to poke fun at him using a picture of him and his former girlfriend, Anna Kalinskaya. Kalinskaya, who is now dating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, became the subject of Kyrgios’ cryptic reply, which many interpreted as offensive.
Kyrgios responded to the post with the comment, “Second serve,” which was seen by many on social media as a derogatory remark about Kalinskaya. Although Kyrgios later removed the post, it had already sparked widespread criticism. Tennis writer Olly Paton was among those who highlighted the issue, sharing a screenshot of the post and expressing his disapproval on Twitter. In response to the backlash, Kyrgios defended himself, stating, “So I’m the bad guy for this? I never brought it up, haha. If someone else mentions it, don’t get mad.”
The incident has reignited discussions around Kyrgios’ past conduct, with some pointing to a history of controversial remarks towards women. Journalist Jon Wertheim commented on the situation, recalling a previous incident in 2015 when Kyrgios made inappropriate comments about a WTA player. Wertheim noted that Kyrgios had faced little consequence for his actions at the time, despite the anger it caused among his peers, and questioned why his behavior continues to be excused.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg also criticized ESPN for allowing Kyrgios to continue his US Open coverage, given his history of demeaning comments about female players. Rothenberg expressed surprise that the network did not take action after Kyrgios’ latest post, considering his previous controversies.
Fans also took to social media to voice their disapproval, with some accusing Kyrgios of misogyny and others calling for him to be removed from his broadcasting role. One user urged ESPN to cut ties with Kyrgios, stating, “His tennis career is over, and he disrespects the sport and its players. It’s time to move on.”
This latest controversy comes on the heels of Kyrgios’ recent criticism of Jannik Sinner. Just weeks earlier, Kyrgios had publicly called for Sinner to be banned from tennis after the Italian player tested positive for Clostebol, a banned substance. Although an independent tribunal cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing, Kyrgios remained outspoken in his belief that Sinner should face punishment, further fueling the drama surrounding the US Open.
As Sinner prepared for the US Open final against American Taylor Fritz, Kyrgios’ actions once again drew attention away from the competition, casting a shadow over the tournament and raising questions about his behavior both on and off the court.
