In a sport that requires a lot of mental strength, Nick Kyrgios is certainly one of the least level-headed players on the tour. The Australian has been involved in a number of controversial incidents in recent years, but this one today might just be the worst one yet.
Kygios was taking on Casper Ruud in the Italian Open second round, with the game level at one set each heading into the decider. However after having a game penalty awarded against him for swearing, falling 2-1 behind in the deciding set, he lost the head.
He would smash his racket, before walking to the sideline and throwing a chair onto the court.
Cannot remember the last time this happened on the @ATP_Tour... King @NickKyrgios just got a game penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct then decided to peg a chair onto the court 😂 pic.twitter.com/KC0mNlL5j9
— Jake Humphreys (@JHumphreys28) May 16, 2019
UNBELIEVABLE FROM @NickKyrgios !
- Recovers set
- Gets mad with “How am I fucking supposed to serve with photographers crossing in the stabds?”
- Calls him “Fucking retard”
- Kicks racket
- Gets game penalty
...
- THROWS TABLE ON COURT
QUITS!
(video copyright @tancredipalmeri pic.twitter.com/1o7AdbfmyN— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) May 16, 2019
Once he was done breaking the place up, Kyrgios packed up his bag, shook hands with the referee and his opponent and walked off the court. He forfeited the match as a result.
Well...
Kyrgios gets a game penalty and then walks off court, handing Casper Ruud a place in the last 16#ibi19 pic.twitter.com/T4jhvbV1RN— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 16, 2019
Only yesterday, the Australian took shots at a number of fellow professionals, including Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. This is what he had to say about the Serbian on the No Challenges Remaining podcast (h/t The Guardian):
I just feel like he has a sick obsession with wanting to be liked. He just wants to be like Roger (Federer).
For me personally - I don’t care right now, I’ve come this far - I feel like he just wants to be liked so much that I just can’t stand him.
This whole celebration thing (blowing kisses to the crowd) that he does after matches, it’s like so cringeworthy. It’s very cringeworthy...
We’re talking about a guy who pulled out of the Australian Open one year because it was too hot. No matter how many grand slams he wins, he will never be the greatest for me.
Simply because, I’ve played him twice and like, I’m sorry, but if you can’t beat me, you’re not the greatest of all time.
