Nick Kyrgios and Chris Eubanks are making headlines with the microphone instead of the racquet at Flushing Meadows this year, as the player-commentators find themselves in the spotlight at the US Open.
Kyrgios, a quarter-finalist in New York in 2002, is providing commentary by the court for ESPN and trading barbs with critics on social media. The Australian has not been shy to express an opinion.
“I’m always going to be outspoken,” said Kyrgios, who has struggled with injury in recent years and has only played one tour match since the Japan Open in October 2022.
“At the same time it’s hard to kind of disagree with what I’m saying most of the time because I’ve played these guys before – I’ve beaten all the GOATs (greatest of all time) of the game.”
The Aussie, who said in December he believes he has only a few more years of playing left in him, has not been afraid to dive into controversy, even when it put him at odds with his ESPN colleagues.
He offered to coach Coco Gauff following her fourth-round exit, after a blogger suggested her coach Brad Gilbert, an on-air commentator for ESPN, be shown the door.
And the Australian Open doubles winner said he would welcome a chance to interview Italian Jannik Sinner after the top seed and world No.1 found himself in the middle of a doping furore days before the tournament began.
Sinner was cleared of wrongdoing despite failing two drug tests this year. He escaped a ban, with Kyrgios among the leading voices to say the outcome amounted to double standards.
“Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned,” he wrote on social media ahead of the tournament. “You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for two years.”
Asked about the Australian’s remarks – and the possibility of running into Kyrgios in New York – Sinner said: “Everyone is free to say everything.”
Asked who he would most like to speak with in New York, Kyrgios told reporters: “Jannik Sinner. With everything going on, I think we would have an interesting chat.”
Sinner plays his semi-final against Russian Daniil Medvedev on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
After going out in the first round at Flushing Meadows last week, American Eubanks had a quick change from tennis shoes to suit-and-tie and jumped into his broadcast role.
A moment with longtime friend Gauff went viral as the defending champion struggled to suppress the giggles at the practice courts earlier in the tournament.
“It’s weird being interviewed by you,” Gauff said to her Olympic teammate.
For Eubanks, “weird” might be as controversial as it gets, because he knows he may soon run into his interview subjects in the locker room again.
“I want the players to not mind when they see me,” said Eubanks, who enjoyed a dream run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year.
“I’ve got to see these guys 40 other weeks out the year. They can’t be like, ‘Oh, here goes the media guy’.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au