Tennis ace responds to Nick Kyrgios three years after criticising Djokovic pic

Federico Coria has hit again at Nick Kyrgios after the Australian criticised him for taking a post-match picture with Novak Djokovic. The incident occurred on the quarter-final stage of the 2021 Belgrade Open, with Kyrgios questioning Coria’s professionalism.

Kyrgios is without doubt one of the most outspoken tennis stars on the circuit, however his remarks about Coria three years in the past have come again to hang-out him. The Argentine responded to Kyrgios’ criticism by saying: “I wish I could tell Kyrgios my story – where I come from, what I had to go through, how many times I left tennis… After all that, what it means to me to play in the quarterfinals of an ATP tournament with the best in history, what it means to me is difficult to explain. I would also like the result to be better.”

Coria had suffered a heavy defeat in opposition to the world No.1 in Serbia, with Djokovic waltzing to a straight units victory. Despite the humiliation, Coria took the weird strategy of asking his opponent for a selfie after the match – one thing which Kyrgios’ took exception to.

Commenting on a Tennis TV Instagram put up on the time, Kyrgios mentioned: “So you are taking a photo after he has literally burnt you off the court. Very very strange mentality to have. Joker one of the greats for sure, but cmon g losing a set 6-0 then asking for a photo? That ain’t it.”

But the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up didn’t cease there, with Kyrgios replying to a distinct remark by saying: “This guy is meant to be a ‘professional’.”

Interestingly, it wasn’t the one interplay Coria had with Djokovic, because the pair educated collectively forward of the Australian Open the next 12 months. The Serb can be controversially deported from the nation due to his refusal to be vaccinated in opposition to Covid, however earlier than that might occur, the pair loved a observe session at Melbourne Park.

Reminiscing on the assembly, Coria informed CLAY: “He [Djokovic] was extremely distressed, he was having a very bad time. He was very excited to be allowed to play. We already know the end of the story. He received great respect, because at the time many players turned their backs on him or did not agree with how he proceeded.”

He added: “It wasn’t his or my greatest second. I needed to inform him to cease making me run as a result of he had been locked up and I used to be about to die.”