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Kyrgios courts more trouble
SHANGHAI: Australian Nick Kyrgios caused more on-court controversy in his defeat by unseeded German Mischa Zverev on Wednesday with a listless performance that could
SHANGHAI: Australian Nick Kyrgios caused more on-court controversy in his defeat by unseeded German Mischa Zverev on Wednesday with a listless performance that could land him in trouble with the ATP.
Zverev took just 48 minutes to beat No 12 seed Kyrgios, who appeared uninterested throughout the clash, putting in a series of half-hearted serves and barely moving to meet his opponent’s returns. He also clashed with spectators before being booed off the court after losing 6-3, 6-1.
At one point Kyrgios appeared to be walking off court before Zverev had returned a ball to him. Kyrgios, later apologised on his Twitter account.
“Not good enough today on many levels, I’m better than that. I can go on about excuses but there are none. Sorry,” wrote Kyrgios, who had also courted controversy during his opening-round win against American Sam Querrey on Tuesday, when he had said he was bored.
During his match with Zverev, Kyrgios became embroiled in an angry exchange with a fan who told him to “respect the game” and “respect the people”.
The world No 12 replied: “You want to come here and play? Sit down and shut up and watch.” Kyrgios later said that he did not owe spectators anything. “It’s my choice,” he said. “If you don’t like it, I didn’t ask you to come and watch.”
Kyrgios said he had been too “physically tired” to compete and had thrown in the towel.
