Bernard Tomic has laid down a $1 million challenge to Nick Kyrgios as the ugly spat between the Australian tennis duo intensifies.
A war of words has been exchanged between the pair over who is the better player in recent weeks, with Kyrgios insisting that Tomic was the 'most hated athlete in Australia'.
After Kyrgios' latest serve to Tomic, the Queenslander delivered a challenge back to the world no.76, inviting him to play in a head-to-head match for $1 million to see who comes out on top.
“I’ll put up a million and you put up a million, let’s see who is the better player,” Tomic, who is ranked 418, said to the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“Let the public see who is better for once and for all. I’ve beaten you easy (sic) before and I’ll do it again. Plus we’ll play on grass so you don’t make any excuses.
“Anywhere, anytime.”
Tomic's message to Kyrgios mentioned the only time the pair had faced off in a competitive match in their careers, with the former winning at the 2019 Kooyong Classic.
The two have been at odds in recent years as both experienced the highs and lows of tennis.
While Kyrgios has rediscovered his form in 2022, Tomic is still working on his comeback and is currently ranked 418 in the world.
Their feud was reignited recently when a fan told Kyrgios that Tomic was better than him on social media.
Kyrgios was having none of that and responded: "Better in what way? I’ve got a higher career high (ranking). More money, more wins and give back whenever I can.
"It’s time for BT to just quiet down. He ain’t even playing anymore. I got years left."
Tomic, who is still playing and was most recently competing in Mexico, spotted Kyrgios' comments on Instagram and was quick to return serve.
"The only logical explanation is that I’m his idol. He’s always been in my shadow growing up," Tomic said.
“That’s why anytime someone mentions my name to him, it gets under his skin.
“He knows he can’t re-write history. The records that I set when I was 16, 17, 18, and 19 — youngest slam quarter-finalist at Wimbledon (since Boris Becker), the biggest tournament in the world.
“He knows he can’t change that, he can’t re-write that and he would love to shut me up if he could, he knows he can’t. He knows my style dominates his and he knows he will lose.”
Kyrgios, who opted to sit out of this year's French Open, didn't waste time responding and didn't hold back on his fellow Aussie.
“HAHA TOMIC let’s not forget the time I payed (sic) for your flight home from Shanghai because you had no money,” Kyrgios wrote.
“Hahahaha re-write history, you are the most HATED athlete in Australia. You are right, no one can take over that.”
Kyrgios also shared an image of Tomic's recent results and wrote: "Bernard, I didn't realise it was this bad. I low key feel bad now. Hit me up if you need me to help you remember how to play. Geezuz."
