The Australian Open is poised for an intriguing twist as Nick Kyrgios and Boris Becker find themselves sharing punditry duties for Eurosport, setting the stage for a potentially awkward reunion.
Eurosport, in its Monday announcement, revealed that both Kyrgios, 28, and Becker, 56, will be part of a star-studded lineup providing insights during the first grand slam of the year. This development comes in the wake of Kyrgios withdrawing from the tournament due to ongoing injury issues.
The announcement sets the stage for a potential collision course between Kyrgios and Becker, following their bitter feud at the end of the previous year. The Australian had questioned Becker’s legacy, criticizing the pace of the game during Becker’s era and asserting that the sport has evolved significantly.
“The game was so slow back then. I’ve watched Boris Becker, and I’m not saying they weren’t good in their time, but to say that they would be just as good now, it’s absurd,” Kyrgios remarked.
Becker responded by defending the past legends of the sport, emphasizing their contribution to the tennis world. The exchange escalated, with Kyrgios taking a dig at Becker’s criminal past, referencing the financial turmoil that led to Becker’s imprisonment in 2017.
Despite the heated exchange, both Kyrgios and Becker are now set to share the Eurosport punditry team, providing their unique perspectives on the tournament. Eurosport’s Scott Young expressed excitement about assembling an impressive lineup of tennis legends and superstars, highlighting Kyrgios’s addition to the English language commentary team.
“We’re particularly excited to welcome Nick Kyrgios to our English language commentary team this year and know fans will benefit from his unique perspectives and closeness to the current crop of champions and competitors taking to the court this year,” said Scott Young.
As the Australian Open approaches, tennis enthusiasts await the commentary dynamics between Kyrgios and Becker, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the broadcast as they bring their contrasting views and experiences to the forefront.
Nick Kyrgios in 2024
Now ranked no.470, the Australian played his last match on the 13th of June 2023 when he was defeated by world no.122 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
Until now, during this year the Australian has managed to achieve a composed 0-1 win-loss record.