Nick Kyrgios hits out over Daria Gavrilova’s tantrum

Neil Frankland
Feb 28, 2018, updated Feb 28, 2018

Nick Kyrgios smashes his racquet in the Davis Cup against Germany in early February. Photo: Getty

Nick Kyrgios has hit out at double standards in tennis after fellow Australian Daria Gavrilova escaped punishment, despite almost hitting two ballkids with an angry racquet throw.

“I would be banned for six years and been on every paper and news channel for the next month,” Kyrgios said in response to footage of Gavrilova’s outburst in a tournament in Mexico.

A fortunate bounce was all that prevented Australia’s No.2 women’s player being disqualified, after she dropped serve and flung her racquet towards the net – only narrowly missing the two ball boys.

Third-seeded Gavrilova defeated American Madison Brengle 4-6 6-3 6-3 in the opening round of the Mexico Open, but was lucky to finish the match after a brain explosion midway through the second set.

Daria Gavrilova is lucky the racquet missed the ball boy and she was not disqualified.#Acapulco #AMT2018 pic.twitter.com/dZGecYNY3K

— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) February 26, 2018

After double-faulting to hand Brengle a break, the 23-year-old Gavrilova hurled her racquet from the baseline at the net.

It only just missed an enthusiastic ballkid, who was chasing the Australian’s ball after it hit the net on her second serve.

Luckily for Gavrilova, the racquet bounced just over the ballkid as he bent to pick up the ball, before narrowly missing another as it continued its flight.

Had the racquet connected with either of the youngsters, Gavrilova would likely have been disqualified.

Kyrgios was moved to call out the perceived double standards in the treatment of different tennis personalities, after Gavrilova escaped punishment for her outburst.

I would be banned for 6 years and been on every paper and news channel for the next month https://t.co/zyQLl2i6eA

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) February 27, 2018