Nick Kyrgios gives shoutout to Danielle Collins after American's bold message to haters post-heated Australian Open win

Nick Kyrgios gave a shoutout to Danielle Collins in support of the American's message to her critics after her tense second-round win at the ongoing 2025 Australian Open. Collins faced home hope Destanee Aiava in the second round of the hardcourt Major, and was repeatedly booed by the Melbourne crowd. However, it was the World No. 11 who had the last laugh, as she won 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2.

After getting past Aiava, Collins taunted the crowd, which resulted in further boos ringing out for her. However, in typically unapologetic fashion, the 2022 Australian Open runner-up did not back down, and during her post-match, on-court interview, she said:

"One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is that the people that don't like you and the people that hate you, they actually pay your bills."

Danielle Collins' words resonated with the often-controversial Nick Kyrgios, who returned to Grand Slam action at the 2025 Australian Open. Kyrgios shared a picture of the American featuring her bold message as an Instagram Story.

Source: Instagram/Nick Kyrgios

Kyrgios himself has garnered quite a reputation for himself over his tendency to respond to those who criticize him. Following his first-round exit from the 2025 Australian Open, Kyrgios issued a sarcastic response to an Australian Football League (AFL) commentator who had called him out.

"Appreciate the kind words brother" - Nick Kyrgios' sarcastic response to critic over 'most disappointing Australian athlete' tag

Nick Kyrgios (Source: Getty)

AFL commentator Kane Cornes, a former Australian rules football player, recently lambasted Nick Kyrgios on SEN Breakfast. Cornes called Kyrgios Australia's most disappointing athlete and also referred to the 2022 Wimbledon Championships runner-up as a "child".

"We're not going to see and hear the last of him, because I feel like his role in the game will be significant, whether he's playing or not, because he is box office. And despite him being our most disappointing Australian athlete ever, he will still have a role to play because people are interested in him," Cornes said.

"I think Andy Roddick described it and him in the best possible way, where he said he's a tennis influencer. That's the best, most modern way that you can describe Nick Kyrgios. He's a child. He's a 29-year-old child," he added.

Kyrgios took notice of Cornes' criticism and fired back with a sarcastic reply on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

"Gotta love comments from an athlete who didn’t play a global sport, appreciate the kind words brother x"

Kyrgios' singles campaign at the 2025 Australian Open ended with a first-round loss to the big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. In men's doubles, he had teamed up with compatriot and close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis. However, the duo decided to retire mid-match in their first-round contest against compatriots Aleksandar Vukic and James Duckworth after Kokkinakis was unable to continue due to injury.