Wimbledon’s in full swing, but the grass feels a little quieter without one of its loudest sparks, Nick Kyrgios. The 2022 finalist may be absent from the draw, but his presence still lingers through the echoes of Centre Court and the wildfire of social media. While injury keeps him off the turf, the Aussie maverick isn’t staying silent. In true Kyrgios fashion, he’s turned to his digital playground, where he just hit back at an American journalist with a sly dig that’s caught fire amid the Wimbledon banter. Curious about what Kyrgios is cooking this time? Buckle up: he’s back, and he’s not holding back!

The latest slice of Wimbledon drama didn’t come from the court, but from X, where Nick Kyrgios once again proved he’s still the king of online chaos. It all began when the popular tennis fan page “Tennis Centel” posted a cheeky photo of veteran DC journalist Ben Rothenberg, snapped from behind, with the caption: “Bro Ben Rothenberg is built like a groundhog LMAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.” As the post picked up steam, Kyrgios couldn’t resist jumping in, quoting it with a simple “Tennis central” from his own handle, fueling the viral fire.

But the heat truly turned up when Ben clapped back at Kyrgios, tweeting, “bro you have tweeted about me four times already this month and it’s only July 6th. Let’s work on getting you a job again. 🙏” Unfazed and firing on all cylinders, Kyrgios struck again: “Awwww Benny 😢😢 I’m doing just fine 😂😂 someone’s feelings are hurting…. Not so fun anymore is it.” The internet? Exploded.

The bickering between Nick Kyrgios and American tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg isn’t new; it’s a social media saga that’s stretched over years, always entertaining and occasionally explosive. Their long-standing digital duel dates back, for instance, to 2022, when Rothenberg tweeted an update on the players being shadowed by Netflix’s documentary crew at the AO. He listed names like Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Aryna Sabalenka. But conspicuously missing? Nick Kyrgios.

Kyrgios, never one to let things slide, swooped in with his trademark sarcasm. Rather than demand inclusion, he simply replied, “Missing someone,” with a yawn emoji. Rothenberg, quick with a clapback, fired back: “Heard about Sakkari, thanks!”, a tongue-in-cheek jab that only fueled the flames further.

Fast forward to 2024, and the feud ignited again. This time, it was Rothenberg’s harsh take on Carlos Alcaraz’s shocking straight-sets loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in the US Open’s 2nd round. Rothenberg didn’t hold back, using the defeat to question narratives around men’s tennis. He wrote:

“Next time someone tries to tell you it’s ‘harder’ to win a men’s slam than a women’s because of best of five, show them this match. No woman could afford playing so badly for so long as Alcaraz is tonight. He has so much rope, and he’s tying some goofy knots with it right now,” Rothenberg said on X (formerly Twitter).

Kyrgios was having none of it. Drawing from his own experience on the brutal New York courts, he snapped back by referencing the Dan Evans vs. Karen Khachanov match at the US Open, where Evans fought back from 0-4 in the final set to win. Nick shot down Rothenberg’s claim with a fiery reply:

“Bruh just stop at this point. Evans & Khachanov’s first match 😴 I agree there is not as much room for error at TIMES. But clearly you haven’t been involved in much physical activity? Do you understand how hard it is to play for 5 and a half hours in that heat Ben?” he added then.

Though the two continue trading blows, their feud has become something of a sideshow fans secretly love, sharp, chaotic, and never short of drama. 

But if you think Kyrgios only exists online these days, think again!

Nick Kyrgios shares candid thoughts on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been the undisputed heavyweights of the men’s tour in recent seasons, splitting the last five GS titles and consistently standing tall as the ones to beat. Alcaraz, in particular, has become a global sensation, his blend of electric tennis and charm making him a massive hit with fans, especially female admirers. And it’s that very popularity that caught Nick Kyrgios’ attention during a recent conversation with Patrick Mouratoglou.

When asked who he believes will have the better career between the two rising superstars, Kyrgios didn’t hesitate. “I’ll tell you mine first. I’ll say Sinner because Alcaraz loves girls. He might get distracted; he might party too much. That’s my only thing where Sinner will stay a bit locked in.” 

Kyrgios’ remark followed Alcaraz’s headline-making moment at Wimbledon, where a female fan nearly collided with the Spaniard after his victory over Oliver Tarvet. The passionate reaction of the fan quickly went viral, reinforcing just how adored Alcaraz is by his massive global, and particularly female, fan base. But Kyrgios, ever the realist, wonders whether that kind of fame can stay in harmony with career focus in the long haul.

As Wimbledon inches toward its thrilling finale with the quarterfinals ahead, Nick Kyrgios is biding his time, prepping for a potential return during the North American hard-court swing. After a long hiatus from the grass season, all eyes will be on the Aussie to see if his firepower and unpredictability can reignite under the bright lights of the US Open series.

Will Kyrgios rise again, or will the break prove too much to overcome? Share your thoughts below!