Nick Kyrgios has ripped into Bernard Tomic's tennis achievements and advised him to "quiet down" after his countryman pronounced him the inferior player between them.
Kyrgios and Tomic are both polarizing personalities but also very talented tennis players. However, it appears they are not fond of each other's on-court accomplishments.
Kyrgios, 27, has earned almost $10 million in prize money and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 13 on the ATP Tour. He has also won six singles titles.
He memorably lifted his first Grand Slam at the 2022 Australian Open men's doubles tournament this January while partnering Thanasi Kokkinakis. He is still ranked in the Top 100.
Tomic, 29, by contrast, has earned just over $5 million in prize money and is a former World no. 17. But having been touted as the next big thing in Australian men's tennis, he has flattered to deceive at the top level, winning only four ATP 250 titles and reaching one Grand Slam quarterfinal.
The German-born Australian is currently ranked outside the top 400 and is regular on the Challenger Tour these days. He owns just two main draw wins in the first half of the 2022 season.
His compatriot Kyrgios clapped back at Tomic's claim that he was the better player between them. In a recent Q&A session that the younger Aussie held on his Instagram account, one fan asked him, "Bernard says he's better than you. You say you're the best on grass. Sounds like n all Oz..."
Kyrgios replied to his message, saying,"Better in what way? I've got a higher career high. More money, more wins and give back whenever I can. It's time for Bernard Tomic to just quiet down. He ain't even playing anymore. I got years left."
It's fair to say this is not the last of the bitter war of words between these two men.