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Mac attack: McEnroe slams Kyrgios after US Open exit

Former tennis brat John McEnroe says controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios should quit the professional circuit and ‘do something else’.

McEnroe, in his commentary role for ESPN on US television, was scathing of Kyrgios’ demeanour before the Australian retired from his third-round US Open match against Ukrainian Illya Marchenko with a hip injury.

Despite repeatedly declaring he didn’t even like tennis, Kyrgios was in tears as he called it quits while trailing two sets to one – 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The 14th seed complained of the injury during his first two matches at Flushing Meadows and said he felt like he’d been “hit by a bus” at one point during Sunday’s (AEST) defeat.

Kyrgios told a trainer at the end of the second set: “If it doesn’t get better I’m done, I don’t want to play anymore.”

His mood did not improve through the third set, telling his support group: “I can’t go forward, can’t run up, what do you want me to do?”

McEnroe has been critical and complimentary of Kyrgios in equal measure since the 21-year-old’s emergence as one of the sport’s hottest prospects.

Last year he lashed Kyrgios for his “bonehead” tactics during a first-round loss to Andy Murray at Flushing Meadows, while he also had cracks at the world number 16 at Wimbledon.

But his criticism of Kyrgios on Saturday night could be considered harsh, given the youngster’s obvious injury concerns.

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“Nick Kyrgios, you don’t want to be a professional tennis player, do something else,” McEnroe said.

“Every one of them (the remaining 16 men in the men’s singles draw) is dedicated to this great profession we have as a tennis player and I’m going to say to Nick Kyrgios if you don’t like what you’re doing, don’t do it anymore,” he fumed.

“We have to have people that want to be out there, that want to compete, understand that it’s difficult but the rewards are amazing.

“It is great ultimately to be a professional tennis player and hopefully all these (remaining) guys will go out there, give the best of their ability and we’ll see some great tennis in the round of 16.”

The loss was Kyrgios’ first in 21 matches against unseeded opponents at grand slam events and will come as a bitter disappointment after he had high hopes at the Open.

There was no sign of any trouble early on as Kyrgios broke Marchenko on the Ukrainian’s first service game.

He then held from 15-40 to consolidate for a 3-0 lead, the only break he needed to secure the opening set.

At times he toyed with the world number 63, producing a series of nonchalant backhand-down-the-line winners to appear in cruise control.

Kyrgios lit up Arthur Ashe Stadium when he ran down a drop shot and conjured an incredible around-the-net-post backhand winner in the fifth game of the third set.

Out of nowhere, though, Kyrgios dropped serve at 4-4 after a double-fault and forehand miss to hand Marchenko the chance to put the match back on level terms.

He made no mistake as Kyrgios’ movement began to diminish.

Serena’s record

Serena Williams, meanwhile, continued to power her way through the draw and to a record 307th Grand Slam match win to reach the fourth round.

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Serena Williams has beaten Martina Navratilova’s record for Grand Slam match wins. Photo: AP/AAP

The top-ranked Williams moved ahead of Martina Navratilova for most match wins in a major by a woman – and equaled Roger Federer’s mark for men – with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Sweden’s Johanna Larsson.

“That’s pretty awesome and what a place to do it, where everything first started,” the 34-year-old Williams said. She won her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open.

“Tennis-wise, I think it was very satisfying in all aspects. It’s not perfect, of course,” said coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

“But for someone who didn’t play much matches in the last two months, I think she’s competitive.”

-with AAP

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