Advertisement

‘I just don’t get people’: Nick Kyrgios lives up to his reputation at ATP event in Florida

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has lived up to his reputation at the Delray Beach Open in Florida with more on-court antics, including dancing along to a Michael Jackson song after being heckled and booed on court.

Kyrgios, 23, ranked No.53 in men’s singles on the tour, snapped back at a spectator in the crowd who was questioning his effort on court at the end of the first set.

He was then called for a code violation after a linesperson reported back to chair umpire Fergus Murphy that the Australian had sworn during the exchange.

“Yeah I swore, I’m pretty sure we all swear,” he said, according to tennis commentator John Horn.

“We’ve got a guy who thinks he’s pretty important so he goes and rats on a player who’s trying to do his best out there, rats to the umpire that I was swearing.

“I just don’t get people,” he said.

The incident left Kyrgios fuming, sarcastically clapping off the official when they were relieved of their duties as he fought back to win the second set.

“Well done champ. Well done mate. Good stuff. You’ve done well,” he was picked up yelling over the broadcast, not long after attempting an inside-out serve on set point.

Kyrgios, with prize money totalling more than $9.3 million, was battling an apparent knee injury when he succumbed to Radu Albot (6-2 3-6 6-3) in one hour and 26 minutes in the second round.

Despite later dancing to Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal at the change of ends, Kyrgios was still upset with the official after leaving the court to a mixture of boos and cheers.

Kyrgios said it was unfair for fans to berate him and had a message for others: “You know what you are going to get.

“They come at me saying we paid good money to come (see) me. I didn’t come to your house and threaten you to come watch me play.

“I’m used to it man. When I win everything is fine, when I lose I get booed, simply as that.”

One fan took to Twitter to say Kyrgios’ on-and-off court performance was “embarrassing”.

“Just when you think @NickKyrgios could not act worse on the court, today he beat that. Embarrassing! From dancing to sideways serves,” he wrote.

Another chimed in that despite Kyrgios being on the receiving end of dozens of negative comments after the court-side rant, he was still the most watched player on YouTube.

And some advice.

Kyrgios’ vanquisher Albot will face Steve Johnson in the quarter-finals after the American beat Italian Paolo Lorenzi 7-5 7-5.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.