Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios gave a damning verdict on the lazy commentary for Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev’s intense RO16 contest on Wimbledon’s Centre Court… and it could make for an awkward staff party.
World No. 13 Taylor Fritz rallied from two sets down to book his spot in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2024, joining his compatriot Tommy Paul for an exciting new chapter in American tennis. The RO16 match against this year’s French Open finalist Alexander Zverev was a powerful battle between two of the heaviest hitters in the game, trading blows and delivering combative serves in a formidable contest for the win.
But someone who knows all too well how difficult it can be to make your way through the stages of Wimbledon is 2022 finalist Nick Kyrgios who has elected to take up more media-based roles during the Grand Slam tournaments as he recovers from an enduring injury… and the outspoken Australian star took issue with his BBC colleague’s coverage of the tie.
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In a match that saw an incredible 34 aces across five sets, the Round of 16 clash between Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev was an exhibition of two of the most elite servers in the competition. During the broadcast, however, BBC commentator Andrew Castle labelled the match-up as “not captivating” as the ball spent less time in play, compared to other matches, with the pair opting to capitalise on their serves to take points.
Of course, Kyrgios, who has joined BBC’s coverage of this year’s tournament, took to X to call out his new colleague, highlighting ongoing tensions between traditional broadcasting styles and the evolving demands of today’s tennis audience.