Nick Kyrgios sides with Holger Rune after Stan Wawrinka exchange of words following Indian Wells clash

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Published 14/03/2023 at 10:18 GMT

Holger Rune and Stan Wawrinka were involved in another confrontation at the net following their third-round clash at Indian Wells. Rune, who was apparently called a "baby" by Wawrinka after their match last year, asked his opponent "you've got nothing to say now?" following the contest. Rune received support on Instagram from last year's Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios.

Nick Kyrgios has given his backing to Holger Rune following the rising star's latest exchange of words with Stan Wawrinka at the end of their Indian Wells encounter.

Rune and Wawrinka had a set-to at the Paris Masters last year, with Wawrinka appearing to tell the 19-year-old to “stop acting like a baby”.

On that occasion, Rune had beaten Wawrinka, but the tables were turned at Indian Wells this week as three-time Grand Slam Wawrinka came out on top.

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Things flared up again between the two players at the net after they shook hands.

“You’ve got nothing to say now?” a smiling Rune asked Wawrinka.

"Huh?” Wawrinka replied.

“You’ve got nothing to say now?” Rune asked again.

“What do you want me to say?” responded Wawrinka, as both players shook the umpire's hand and walked away.

Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios shared his thoughts about the incident on Instagram.

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He wrote: “Hahahaha yeah all good when you win… typical. Holger Rune with you my brother.”

Kyrgios and Wawrinka also have history.

They reportedly had to be separated in the locker room after a heated clash at the 2015 Canadian Open.

Kyrgios had seemingly been sledging Wawrinka during the match – and the Swiss expressed his annoyance at the behaviour of the Australian afterwards.

"So disappointing to see a fellow athlete and colleague be so disrespectful in a way I could never even imagine," he wrote on Twitter.

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"What was said I wouldn't say to my worst enemy. To stoop so low is not only unacceptable but also beyond belief.”

Kyrgios is not playing Indian Wells this week as he is continuing to recover from knee surgery.

The 27-year-old has not played competitively this season and had to pull out of the Australian Open before the tournament had got underway.

Wawrinka faces 11th seed Jannik Sinner in the last 16 at Indian Wells.

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