Former Top 10 player James Blake, who played his friend and former No. 1 Andy Roddick in an exhibition in New Haven, gave his thoughts on Nick Kyrgios’ comments toward Stan Wawrinka. The 20-year-old Australian's derogatory remarks were picked up by on-court microphones during their match in Montreal.
“He clearly went over the line,” Blake told the *New Haven Register*. **“There have been a lot of young players out here, seemingly every generation’s got some bad boys, young whipper-snappers, whatever you want to call it. You got the young punk. He’s definitely in that mold right now.
“You hope he turns into a mature veteran or someone that can harness it. You throw your racquet or something as opposed to crossing the line into someone’s personal life.”
Roddick, who recently stopped working as a co-host with Fox Sports, said that he often enjoys it when fans are jeering players, as long as they keep it within limits.
“If someone wants to say something, heckle, I’ve always been all for that in tennis,” Roddick said. “If you pay the money, I think you should be able to, as long as you respect the sanctity of when a point is going on. If you get too personal, you’ll probably get kicked out like most sporting events.
“But I’m happy with you taking it as far up to that line as you want to. That’s your right as a fan of the sport and I’ve always encouraged people to get into it.”