Wawrinka says Kyrgios on-court comment “disrespectful, asks for punishment

MONTREAL – Stan Wawrinka called opponent Nick Kyrgios “disrespectful” and urged tennis officials to take action against the Australian for a controversial comment during their match Wednesday night at the men’s Rogers Cup in Montreal.

A courtside microphone caught Kyrgios saying to Wawrinka that fellow Australian player Thanasi Kokkinakis “banged your girlfriend, sorry to tell you about that.”

The comment was made on court after third seeded Wawrinka won the opening set of their second round match. Wawrinka retired in the third set with an injury.

Reports have said Wawrinka has been seeing a woman who used to date Kokkinakis.

Wawrinka, of Switzerland, sent messages on Twitter taking 20-year-old Kyrgios to task.

“So disappointing to see a fellow athlete and colleague be so disrespectful in a way I could never even imagine,” Wawrinka wrote on his verified account. “What was said I wouldn’t say to my worst enemy.

“To stop (stoop) so low is not only unacceptable but also beyond belief. There is no need for this kind of behaviour on or off the court and I hope the governing body of this sport does not stand for this and stands up for the integrity of this sport that we have worked so hard to build.”

From the women’s Rogers Cup in Toronto, Victoria Azarenka tweeted “U have to respect ur opponent… Everyone has to… Always.”

In a post match interview with Sportsnet, Kyrgios said: “I thought he was getting a bit lippy with me.”

Kyrgios advanced to the round of 16 awhere he is to face American John Isner, who ousted Canada’s Vasek Pospisil earlier Wednesday.