"It's like a soccer crowd" - Patrick Rafter speaks on atmosphere during Kyrgios-Kokkinakis matches

Australian tennis legend Patrick Rafter addressed the claims made by Nick Kyrgios that nothing could top the atmosphere during his doubles matches at the Australian Open, where he lifted the trophy with partner Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis entered the tournament as unseeded wildcards, and went on to win the men's doubles trophy, much to the delight of the raucous crowd. Kyrgios later bragged that he and Kokkinakis had “created probably the best atmosphere this tournament has ever seen” during the men’s doubles final win and claimed that Ashleigh Barty’s father had told him that “the crowd was the best he’s ever seen”.

“Obviously Ash is a hell of a player, but I think the ratings speak for themselves,” Kyrgios said after winning the doubles final.

Former World No.1 Rafter addressed these comments when he appeared on Australian television on Sunday night.

“Well, it’s a different type of atmosphere. They certainly create a lot of chaos out there in the crowd,” Rafter told The Project about Kyrgios and Kokkinakis. “I wouldn’t call it a traditional tennis crowd that they get – but it’s like a soccer crowd.

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“But in terms of the best ever atmosphere… I don’t know. I was on the court when Ash walked out and the scream that they got, you’re not going to get any better than that.

“The scream that she got from the crowd there was something you’ll never be able to replicate unless you’re in that situation.”

Rafter would go on to praise women's tennis in Australia, saying it is as strong as it has ever been and that hopefully the men could get to that level.