Andy Roddick launched a scathing rant about Nick Kyrgios.

Andy Roddick launched an impassioned rant about Nick Kyrgios’ social media behaviour (Image: Getty)

Andy Roddick ripped into Nick Kyrgios during an impassioned rant on the latest episode of his podcast.

The former world No. 1 has largely avoided commenting on Kyrgios’ exploits but had enough after seeing the Australian call out 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt on Instagram

Roddick has now suggested the 29-year-old is more of an “influencer” than a player, claiming he “lived for likes”.

Kyrgios has spent months calling out Jannik Sinner on social media after the International Tennis Integrity Agency ruled that he “bore no fault or negligence” for two failed anti-doping tests in March 2024.

The ITIA accepted Sinner’s argument that he was contaminated. The World Anti-Doping Agency has since appealed the ITIA’s “no fault or negligence” ruling. Kyrgios called for Sinner to be banned from the sport and has continued to criticise the world No. 1.

Last week, he went as far as digging out 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt – the son of tennis icon Lleyton Hewitt – when the teenager hit with Sinner at the Australian Open. The Aussie took to the comments, calling it a “cooked post” and adding needle emojis.

“Love ya Cruz but this is wild,” he wrote. “Thought we were boys.” After being called out, Kyrgios claimed he was joking. But the comments were enough to set Roddick off.

On the latest episode of his Served podcast, the 2003 US Open champion launched a scathing rant, explaining why he previously hadn’t responded to Kyrgios. “He insinuated that because I had that opinion [having sympathy for Sinner] that I must have done performance-enhancing drugs during my career. Open book, tons of tests,” Roddick started.

Nick Kyrgios recently criticised 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt for practising with Jannik Sinner (Image: Getty)

“So basically, if you test positive, you should be banned forever and if you never failed a test, you also have done drugs. That p***ed me off. I decided to lay off because it’s this weird thing where he wants the likes, right?

“At this point, he’s a tennis influencer, right? He lives for likes. He lives in the comments section.”

Roddick then took aim at Kyrgios’ comments towards Cruz. He continued: “Imagine as an almost 30-year-old man, going into the comments of a 16-year-old who’s just hit with someone who’s the best player in the world.

“If you think he’s guilty, if you think he’s not guilty, it’s still a moment where you get to do that, no matter who your dad is. His dad was No. 1 in the world. That’s a big moment, and to simply post a picture and then have this guy go into the comments and make it all about himself.”

The American noted that Kyrgios claimed he was joking and added: “The lack of awareness that you have with bringing trolls and all of the worst parts of the tennis fandom into a 16-year-old’s comments is ridiculous.”

Although Kyrgios has called out Roddick in the past, the 42-year-old explained that he wasn’t planning to acknowledge his comments. “I can respond the way I want, I haven’t until now,” he added.

“I can pretty much guarantee you, I wouldn’t have responded to my own personal stuff with him until the situation of putting syringes in the comments of a 16-year-old when he’s just had a highlight of practice with the No. 1 player in the world.”

The retired American ace still believes Kyrgios is one of the sport’s most talented players, though he’s had enough with the 29-year-old’s social media antics.

“You’re too good, too talented, too capable to be tweeting syringes and commenting on players’ off-court lives and shadow boxing for clicks and likes. I hate it,” he said.

“If he gets rocking at the Australian Open, we can’t stop watching.I hope he knows we’re watching because of his artistry with a tennis racket and not because he inserts himself into dumb, stupid, petulant questions. I can’t take my eyes off him because of the way he plays, not because of what he tweets.”