Nick Kyrgios has jokingly claimed Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper are ‘fighting over’ Emma Raducanu, despite the British No 1 talking down romance rumours at Wimbledon.
The controversial Australian star is missing Wimbledon for a third straight year due to injury and was also dropped as a pundit by the BBC last year.
The broadcaster’s decision to include the Australian on the panel 12 months after he admitted to assaulting his former girlfriend Chiara Passari – but avoided a criminal conviction – was met with a fierce backlash from the public and MPs.
Kyrgios is, however, working for talkSPORT over the two weeks of the tournament, recording a daily half-hour show alongside co-presenter Gordon Smart.
The pair analysed the first day of the Championships on Tuesday morning, which included reflecting on Raducanu earning a straight sets win over fellow Briton Mimi Xu.
Smart highlighted the attention on Raducanu in Britain and her struggles since her shock US Open triumph back in 2021, before referencing a potential ‘love interest’ to Kyrgios.
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Kyrgios, laughing in response, then mischievously suggested two-time defending men’s champion Alcaraz and British star Draper were ‘fighting over’ Raducanu.
‘I don’t know, I think it’s a love triangle,’ Kyrgios said. ‘Draper, Alcaraz, Raducanu. They’re fighting over Raducanu I think, I’m not sure.’
Smart responded by asking whether rumours of a romance would distract Raducanu at the tournament, while noting the star ‘looks happy’.
‘I think the outside, I don’t know who’s making her happy,’ Kyrgios replied. ‘The tennis world loves a love story, they love to try and put two together but Raducanu is number one British female player at the moment, she’s doing fairly well.
‘Obviously winning a grand slam at 19 is never easy, it comes with a lot of expectation on the outside world.
‘But you know as long as she’s happy, there’s so much pressure that comes with being the number one player and playing at Wimbledon so hopefully she can find her feet.
‘Imagine her and Jack Draper winning the women’s and men’s title, that would be something.’
Despite Kyrgios – who watched his upcoming US Open mixed doubles partner Naomi Osaka in action on Monday – making the light hearted comments, Raducanu had shot down suggestions of a romance with Alcaraz in the build-up to Wimbledon.