Tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios mocks the standard of players at Croatia Open ATP event – including a fellow Aussie: ‘Quite arrogant and disrespectful’

Outspoken Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios has weighed in with a barb about the ATP talent on show at the Croatia Open.

Despite playing just one ATP tour game this year, at the Stuttgart Open where he was bundled out meekly in the first round, he sent a tweet to Craig Gabriel, a tennis tragic, asking ‘Who are these guys playing?

Kyrgios was watching the quarter finals of the ATP event in Umag, Croatia where overnight one of the finalists who emerged just happens to be his compatriot Alexei Popyrin.

Nick Kyrgios (pictured with partner Costeen Hatzi) is never short of a word and had a crack at the standard of players at the Croatia Open

One of those new kids is fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin (pictured) who has crashed his way into the semis

Whether he tweeted ‘Who are some of these players haha,’ was an attempt at mocking, or him acknowledging that he’s been away from the circuit for too long, remained to be seen.

But fans weren’t happy.

‘No need to talk about players like this, quite arrogant and disrespectful. Dino Prizmic is a very talented young man, who won Roland Garos Boys this year. Matteo Arnaldi is also talented, he’s on the brink of reaching the top 50 (and surpassing Kyrgios in the rankings),’ wrote one fan.

‘You have an absolute cheek! Not even won a Masters 1000 but like to get cocky on social media. You reached a Wimbledon final because Rafa couldn’t compete, he would’ve taken care of you, (so) put your pipe down and be respectful you have done absolutely nothing,’ said another.

Kyrgios’ tweet came after the semis were finalized.

Popyrin, 23, reached the semifinals of the ATP 250 event by beating World No. 287 Dino Prizmic. The Aussie now takes on World No. 76 Matteo Arnaldi in the final-four fixture, as the Italian downed top seed Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals. 

Stan Wawrinka, who is now ranked 72, was the other semifinalist. 

Stan Wawrinka (pictured) also made this Croatian Open final 17 years ago and in his comeback from surgery his form is surging

Either way, Popyrin at 196cm (6’5′) making a final where he will oppose comeback veteran Wawrinka would be a huge effort.

This will be Wawrinka’s first ATP final since 2019. Ironically, this tournament was where he first won an ATP event way back in 2006.

As for Popyrin, he has one ATP final appearance to his credit thus far.

‘I have 24 hours to get ready for the match,’ said the Aussie after his long and bruising encounter.

‘I’ll definitely be ready but I will sleep in. My team and I wont do anything different leading into this match. 

‘Stan’s a legend of our sport he can still play even those he’s getting up there in age. But I have practiced with him a lot and he is still one of the best strikers of the ball.

‘I put him up there as a legend because he’s won three slams.’