Nick Kyrgios sparks debate after naming controversial star as his ‘favourite player’: “You should all be grateful”

Nick Kyrgios has once again placed himself at the centre of tennis conversation after publicly naming Corentin Moutet as his favourite player on tour, pairing the endorsement with a direct message to fans urging them to appreciate the Frenchman’s unpredictability and on-court personality.

The Australian posted the message on Instagram alongside a photo with Moutet, writing: “My favourite player.” He then added a second line that quickly circulated across social media: “You should all be grateful, relax and enjoy the show.”

The timing of the post comes amid renewed attention around Moutet following another controversial on-court interview in which the Frenchman repeatedly used explicit language after a match, despite attempts from the interviewer to stop him.

Their on-court relationship also adds context to Kyrgios’ endorsement. The pair met in Stuttgart earlier this grass swing, where Kyrgios recorded his only victory of this brief grass-court campaign, which was limited to Stuttgart and Mallorca. His run was interrupted by injury, forcing him to miss Halle, before closing the singles grass season earlier than planned.

Kyrgios’ social media post effectively served as a public defence of Moutet at a moment when the Frenchman was again under scrutiny for his behaviour during an on-court interview, where he reportedly used explicit language multiple times.

Rather than distancing himself from the incident, Kyrgios leaned into the controversy, positioning Moutet as part of a broader group of players whose emotional expression and unpredictability are, in his view, central to tennis entertainment.

The message aligns with Kyrgios’ long-standing public stance that tennis benefits from personality-driven narratives rather than controlled uniformity, especially when it comes to players who divide opinion.

Nick Kyrgios and Corentin Moutet represent two of the most emotionally expressive profiles on the ATP Tour, players whose visibility is shaped as much by attitude and incident as by results.

Kyrgios has long combined elite shot-making with confrontation, spontaneity, and an openly unfiltered relationship with the sport’s structure. Moutet, in parallel, has developed a similar identity on the next generation of the circuit, frequently involved in tense and unpredictable match dynamics.

Moutet’s matches have regularly featured clashes with crowds, chair umpires, and opponents, with emotional reactions becoming a recurring part of his competitive profile. Against Alexander Bublik in Phoenix, one of the most notable incidents escalated to the point of a near physical confrontation, reinforcing the volatility that often surrounds his matches.