Nick Kyrgios’ doubles partner details what happened in locker room altercation by ‘text’

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Former world number 53 Sam Groth has detailed a text message he received from Nick Kyrgios’ doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, during an alleged locker room confrontation between Kyrgios and two of their defeated opponents’ coaching staff. 

It was disappointment in the men’s singles draw for Kyrgios in 2022, crashing out at the second round stage. 

But he was always up against it to overcome second seed Daniil Medvedev – a match he took to four sets. 

Things are already going better in men’s doubles, with he and his Australian partner Kokkinakis advancing to the third round after beating number one seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. 

And they managed it in straight sets too, a spectacle which the home crowd enjoyed a little bit too much, at least according to Pavic. 

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After the match, Kyrgios claims that a confrontation unfolded backstage between himself and two of the Croatian pairing’s disgruntled coaching staff. 

Groth, who reached the Australian Open doubles quarter-finals in 2017 and 2018, was one of the first to find out. 

“Thanasi actually messaged me as it was happening,” he told Channel 9.

“He said Nick got accosted in the locker room by Pavic’s fitness trainer.

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“Obviously they weren’t very happy, the No.1 team in the world, the No.1 seeds going down against Thanasi and Nick and didn’t accept what was going on with the crowd, what was going on with Nick.

“I think it’s just a little bit soft to take it off the court and into the locker room, and not even from the players, from someone from the team. It’s not necessary.”

Locker room footage has since been leaked from the aftermath of the reported altercation, with Kyrgios animated with his own team.

The 26-year-old announced the incident on social media late on Friday evening, complete with a yawning emoji and claims that tennis is a ‘soft sport’. 

One of the defeated pairing, Mate Pavic, made his complaints known after the defeat. 

“They [the crowd] are pretty loud,” he said.

“Obviously they cheer for Aussies. It wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect to all opponents, to other players.

“We saw yesterday also with Medvedev how it was. That’s how they are here. We’re used to that. But like I said, it wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect.”

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