Tennis star Nick Kyrgios claimed that the Croatian team's coach threatened to fight him during a heated argument, following his spectacular win with Thanasis Kokkinakis against the world No.1 seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
Footage has appeared in the aftermath of the argument in the locker rooms where Nick Kyrgios claims he was threatened by the Croatian coach.
Standing next to his doubles partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kyrgios explains to his entourage what went down in the locker room.
Kyrgios tweeted this morning, claiming the coach and trainer of Croatian pairing Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic wanted to fight him in the players' gym following the Aussies' 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 victory.
And Wide World of Sports can reveal the moment after the Aussie stars emerged from the locker room to be greeted by their entourage.
Speaking on Nine's Australian Open coverage this morning, Sam Groth revealed Kokkinakis had sent him a text message as the astonishing chain of events was unfolding.
Speaking on Nine's Australian Open coverage this morning, Sam Groth revealed Kokkinakis had sent him a text message as the astonishing chain of events was unfolding.
"Thanasi actually messaged me as it was happening," he said on Nine's Australian Open coverage.
"He said Nick got accosted in the locker room by Pavic's fitness trainer. Obviously, they weren't very happy, the No.1 team in the world, the No.1 seeds going down against Thanasi and Nick and didn't accept what was going on with the crowd, what was going on with Nick.
"I think it's just a little bit soft to take it off the court and into the locker room, and not even from the players, from someone from the team. It's not necessary."
Pavic and Mektic lost the first set 10-8 in a tiebreak before the Australians took the second set 6-3 to advance to the third round, to the delight of the boisterous crowd in the Kia Arena.
“It all went very fast, very loud,” said Mektic. “We barely survived yesterday just to fight another day. It looks like, just the guys played really well. They’re a nasty team to beat here and that’s it. We just fell short.”