Australian Sports Icon Gives Advice to Tennis' Latest Bad Boy Nick Kyrgios

Former cricket great Shane Warne wrote a stern letter to a fellow Australian sportsman, the brash, young tennis player Nick Kyrgios.

“You’re testing our patience mate,” Warne said in the message that he posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday. “We all realise you’re only 20 & have a lot to learn buddy. But please don’t waste your talent.”

Warne offered his counsel to Kyrgios after the 20-year-old lost to Andy Murray in the U.S. Open first round.

Other athletes were more blunt about Kyrgios’ behavior, according to news.com.au. Tim Watson, an Australian Football League great, called Kyrgios a “tosser” on a Melbourne radio morning show. And premiership coach David Parkin described the tennis player as “the most disgraceful Australian athlete I think I have ever seen.”

Kyrgios made some impressive shots against Murray during the four set match at Flushing Meadows — including one between his legs — but his antics were the main topic of conversation. He slammed his racket on the court and was warned by umpire Carlos Ramos for swearing loudly.

Spectators witnessed an even more unusual sight during the Grand Slam game, with Kyrgios apparently dozing off in a chair between matches.

But this behavior pales by comparison to an outrageous incident in Montreal when a microphone caught Kyrgios trash-talking his opponent Stan Wawrinka during a Rogers Cup match. Kyrgios said his friend, fellow Australian pro Thanasi Kokkinakis, had slept with Wawrinka’s girlfriend.

Kyrgios was issued with two fines and a possible suspension for his remarks.

[news.com.au]

Write to Mark Rivett-Carnac at mark.rivett-carnac@timeasia.com.