Nick Kyrgios hasn't taken a bite at fellow heavyweight Alexander Zverev's recent brutal assessment of him just days out from the beginning of the Australian Open.
Kyrgios will enter this year's tournament with the country on his shoulders as the top-ranked male, after Alex de Minaur withdrew through injury, and will be eager to drastically improve on his early exit in 2019.
The world no. 23 has historically under-achieved at his home slam, his best finish a quarter-final exit in 2015, yet he consistently puts the game's best to the test on the big stage.
However, world no. 7 Zverev, who himself enters this year's tournament under some pressure after suffering serving issues in the ATP Cup, has called for more attention to be paid to some of the game's other young talents.
MORE: Young brigade finally ready to dethrone Djokovic-Nadal-Federer at this year's Australian Open?
Addressing the media on Friday, the German leveled a sly dig at Kyrgios, suggesting he felt the Canberran didn't deserve some of the recogntion he was receiving.
“There’s a lot of young guys that are right now, no offence, just better than him,” Zverev said.
"I think Tsitsipas is better than him.
"Just simply because he is more consistent over five sets and that's what you need as well.
"It is not a three-set match where you can win in an hour-and-20 (minutes) and get off the court.
“To beat the best, you have to play at your best for a longer period of time.”
Kyrgios has cut a more-behaved figure in the built up to this year's Australian Open, his devotion to helping with the bushfire relief through his aces campaign and participation in the Australian Open Rally for Relief event earning the widespread appreciation not often shown to the 26-year-old.
And given the opportunity to respond to Zverev's criticism on Saturday, whilst admitting he was confused about the motives behind the comments, said they didn't faze him,
“I’m not going to entertain that too much,” Kyrgios said.
“With everything going on that’s the least of my worries.
“He’s a great player. I’m not quite sure where those comments come from.
“I’m sure he didn’t mean them in a bad way. But if he did, then I’m sorry for whatever I’ve done to you.”
Kyrgios will kick start his Australian Open tilt with a Lorenzo Sonego on Tuesday.
