'He lacks respect for the public and rival:' Kyrgios' rude act that angered Nadal.

After Nick Kyrgios beat world number two Rafael Nadal yesterday, the Spaniard slammed the Aussie tennis star for his lack of respect when playing.

In a tight three-setter at the Mexican Open, Kyrgios displayed some of his best form. But the high-quality spectacle didn’t translate into positive words in the press conference after.

Throughout the match, there were a number of moments where Kyrgios lashed out.

In the first set, Kyrgios said he was feeling ill leading him to contemplate dropping out of the game entirely.

“I feel sick … if I forfeit, the media will blow it up … I’ll be booed off the court.”

“I’m gonna try to play a couple of more games.”

Kyrgios tells the trainer he “feels sick” after losing the opening set to Nadal 6-3.

Trainer says what can you do as he hints at a retirement.

Kyrgios replies: “If I forfeit, the media will blow it up…. I’ll be booed off the court”#AMT2019

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) February 28, 2019

During the second set, he was issued a warning by the umpire for swearing and shouting at the crowd to “shut up”.

Then in the third, the Aussie tennis player complained to the chair umpire about the time Nadal was taking between points on Kyrgios’ serve.

Kyrgios also tried the controversial tactic of an underarm serve against Nadal, which likely added fuel to the fire.

(????@TennisTV ) pic.twitter.com/2O2BS4AE6B

— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) February 28, 2019

Kyrgios later explained the reasoning behind the underarm serve on Facebook, saying “the only reason for doing it” is because Nadal was standing so far back.

“I mean isn’t the idea to serve where the person can’t get the ball? Try to get an ace?” he said on Facebook while replying to fans.

While Kyrgios has been heavily criticised for his number of disrespectful acts throughout the match, many have also condemned Nadal for his handshake with Kyrgios after he was defeated. Whilst the Aussie player went in for the standard shake, Nadal only briefly took part before heading the other way.

The handshake (????@TennisTV ) pic.twitter.com/a12MwHKA2m

— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) February 28, 2019

It was shameful how Nadal didn’t shake Nick’s hand properly. Be gracious in defeat. One of the most explosive matches I’ve watched recently. Congrats @NickKyrgios! @CoffeeBreakTens @ATP_Tour @TennisChannel @BrettHaber @Steve_Weissman @BenRothenberg

— LavanyaSingerDinesh???? (@VocalistLavanya) February 28, 2019

One of the coldest handshakes of Rafael Nadal’s career.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 28, 2019

The several flashpoints led Nadal, the 17-time Grand Slam champion, to tell reporters that Kyrgios’ biggest downfall is his considerable lack of respect.

“He’s a player who has enormous talent, could be winning grand slams or fighting for the number one ranking,” Nadal said in the post-match media conference.

Speaking in Spanish, he continued: “He lacks respect for the crowd, his opponent and towards himself.”

“I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but he lacks a little respect for the public and the rival.”

Responding after Nadal's comments, Kyrgios seemed non-plussed.

"I'm different. Rafa's different. He can focus on what he needs to do," Kyrgios said.

"He doesn't know the journey I've been through. He doesn't know anything about me so I'm not going to listen at all."

"I'm different, Rafa's different, he doesn't know the journey I've been through."@NickKyrgios isn't phased by Rafa's post match comments#AMT2019 #ATP #Nadal #kyrgios pic.twitter.com/Y5hzaFa1u7

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 28, 2019

"It's the way I play. It's the way he plays - he's very slow between points and I think that the rule in the book is that you have to play to the speed of the server but Rafa has the speed every time," Kyrgios continued.

"I'm not going to comment on him, his game. I've got my game; he's got his own game. We played well - that's the sport. People are different - I'm not going to take that into consideration at all."

Kyrgios will now proceed to Friday's quarter-final against Stan Wawrinka.

Also in the last eight is Australian fifth seed Alex de Minaur faces Alexander Zverev and compatriot John Millman meets John Isner.

Now ranked 64th in the world, after a career high of 13 in 2016, Krygios has been steadily declining in the ATP ratings since. But perhaps this win against the World No. 2 is the positive sign that the Aussie tennis player will stop making headlines for his notoriously bad attitude, and instead for his triumphs in the sport.

- With AAP