BREAKING NEWS  Nick Kyrgios was shocked when he spoke up to defend Alex de Minaur after an argument with Prime Minister Albanese: “What is happening to Alex is a crime against tennis”

Sydney, December 26, 2025 – Nick Kyrgios – the legendary “bad boy” of Australian tennis, who has caused controversy countless times – shocked the tennis world and Australian public opinion when he suddenly spoke up to defend his compatriot Alex de Minaur in the strongest and most emotional way ever.

Just days after a heated war of words between de Minaur and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on live television – where de Minaur called Albanese “disgrace and liar” for his gun control policies and public spending – Kyrgios posted a lengthy video on Instagram and X, titled: “What’s happening to Alex de Minaur is a crime against tennis.”

In the video, Kyrgios – with a voice full of indignation but also emotion – said: “What is happening to Alex de Minaur is a crime against tennis.

How can there be people so cruel as to criticize a young athlete, just 26 years old, carrying an entire nation on his shoulders? Alex is the humblest, hardest-working person I know.

He never complained, never blamed, just gave his all for Australia. And now, just because he dares to speak the truth, he is attacked from all sides – from politicians to the media.

This is not fair, this is bullying!”

Kyrgios, who had a complicated relationship with de Minaur (from competition to mutual respect), continued: “Alex is the hope of Australian tennis. He has taken us into the top 10, into the Grand Slam quarter-finals, leading the Davis Cup team.

But instead of supporting him, people tried to bring him down. I’ve been criticized throughout my career, I know how painful it feels. But Alex didn’t deserve that.”

The most shocking part is Kyrgios’ 10-word warning to de Minaur’s critics: “If you keep attacking him, you’ll have me to deal with.” (If you continue to attack him, you will have to face me.)

Just 10 short words, but enough to make the entire tennis world and Australian public opinion freeze. Kyrgios – who is famous for his explosive personality and willingness to protect his teammates – has turned himself into a “shield” for de Minaur.

The video reached more than 15 million views in just 24 hours, with the hashtags #KyrgiosDefendsDemon and #StandWithAlex climbing to the top of global trends.

The response from the tennis community was an unprecedented wave of support. Novak Djokovic tweeted: “Respect to Nick for speaking up. Alex is a warrior.” Carlos Alcaraz wrote: “Big respect Kyrgios. Alex is class.” Lleyton Hewitt, Australian legend, posted: “This is what mateship is about.

Proud of both.”

Even those who once criticized Kyrgios have changed their attitudes. A viral comment: “Nick may be controversial, but today he is a hero. Protecting Alex like a brother.”

The incident stems from a war of words on “The Project” a few days ago, when de Minaur criticized Prime Minister Albanese for his gun control policy and public spending (involving accusations of wasting tax money on lavish parties).

Albanese responded with personal insults, leading de Minaur to issue a strong statement defending the right to self-defense and criticizing the leadership.

Since then, de Minaur has been fiercely attacked by a section of the media and politicians, accusing him of “crossing the line” and “politicizing sports”.

Kyrgios – who has gone through periods of being “hunted” by the media because of his personality – clearly sympathizes deeply. He ended the video with a message to de Minaur: “Mate, you’re not alone. We’ve got your back. Keep fighting – on and off the court.”

Kyrgios’ statement has sparked a larger debate about how society treats young athletes.

De Minaur, 26 years old, is at the peak of his career: top 10 ATP, leading Australia in the Davis Cup, and the greatest hope of tennis in the kangaroo country since Hewitt.

But pressure from public opinion and politics is seriously testing him.

Prime Minister Albanese has not responded directly to Kyrgios’ statement, but his office released a short statement: “We respect the freedom of expression of all citizens, including athletes.”

On Christmas Day 2025, Kyrgios’s words of defense turned into the greatest gift for de Minaur: solidarity from a former “rival” who became an ally. Tennis Australia also voiced its support: “Alex is a national asset.

We are proud of him.”

From political controversy to sports solidarity, the story of de Minaur and Kyrgios is a reminder that: in a world full of pressure, sometimes those who once “confronted” become the strongest support.

Australia is watching. And with Kyrgios behind him, Alex de Minaur is no longer fighting alone.