From dancing to getting angry at fans, Nick Kyrgios has once again showed bizarre antics on court.
The Aussie tennis star has sparked controversy for his recent match at Delray Beach Open in Florida, where he was involved in a verbal altercation with a spectator.
The 23-year-old lost in three sets to Radu Albot, the World No. 82, who won 6-2 3-6 6-3. Kyrgios was reportedly booed off the court when the game finished, after he consistently displayed a bad attitude throughout the match.
According to freelance sports commentator John Horn, the controversy began after the first set when crowd members began to “boo” Kyrgios for his perceived lack of effort against opponent Albot.
‘Kyrgios’ and fan [sic] got into it before end of 1st set at Delray Beach Open. Fan yelling at him questioning his effort…Kyrgios’ yells back with an expletive and…”No one told you to be here…why don’t you do something else”,’ Horn posted to his Twitter.
The chair umpire gave Kyrgios a code violation for his interaction with the crowd member – but that didn’t stop him.
Kyrgios then took aim at a linesperson during a changeover in the second set. And even after winning the second set (of a three-set match), he continued to yell at the linesperson and sarcastically clapping at him.
The crowd continued to show their discontent with the Aussie tennis player, with Horn tweeting that Kyrgios was even being booed when he was having an injury timeout.
Perhaps in an effort to lighten the mood, Kyrgios was also seen dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”.
When asked about the altercation with the crowd member after the match, Kyrgios said, “They come at me saying we paid good money to come see me…I didn’t ask you to come spend money & come watch me play.”
“You know what you are going to get. I didn’t come to your house & threaten you to come watch me play,” he continued. “I’m used to it man. When I win everything is fine, when I lose I get booed, simple as that.”
Now ranked 64th in the world, after a career high of 13 in 2016, the star has been steadily declining in the ATP ratings since.
Top Comments
Sorry Nick, it's just not working out between us like I dreamed - I was only ever there to see the other player from Uzbekistan
One day you may finally understand it's not about you
If people didn’t come to watch you play, you wouldn’t be making the money you make. Perhaps we should take his advice, and all stop watching him play. This guy has issues, and would probably benefit from some time off talking to a therapist.