Special Ks take step closer to doubles crown

NIGHTCLUBS can wait – because the Special Ks might just have a doubles title to win.

The world’s wildest pairing – Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis – did it again on Friday, stunning the world No.1 Croatian pair of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in front of a roaring KIA Arena.

The two mates played up, messed around and, of course, played some stupendously good tennis to eliminate a pairing that, last year, won basically everything.

Olympic gold and Wimbledon honours sat along seven more titles for their 2021 trophy cabinet, but they had never come up against anything like Kyrgios and Kokkinakis before.

The party atmosphere was in full swing, with one punter turning to face the crowd and knocking back a shooey early in the second set.

Honestly, you would not have been surprised if Kyrgios and Kokkinakis had joined him in the beer-drinking ritual.

They play doubles for the fun – which isn’t to say they can’t also take it seriously.

The match was not without controversy, however, with Pavic becoming increasingly frustrated as the night wore on and the jeering got louder.

He took the extraordinary step of approaching the chair umpire on a crucial break point and begging for some respect as Kyrgios played up to the crowd. “This is p---ing me off. Don’t let that happen,” he pleaded.

He lost the next point, was broken and quickly shuffled off the court as the Special Ks did their victory lap for the crowd after the 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 upset.

“It wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect to other players,” Pavic said after the match. “We saw that with (Kyrios’ singles loss to Daniil) Medvedev. That’s how they are here. But it wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect.”