Despite winning his first-round Wimbledon match-up, Nick Kyrgios has had a controversial start to his tournament, capping it off with a fiery yet brilliant post-match press conference.
In a clash that saw the Australian spit at a ‘disrespectful’ crowd member, call a line judge a ‘snitch’, and complain about spectators who were clapping during play, Kyrgios let off some steam during his press conference.
Kyrgios hit out at the abuse he received on and off the court, and even took aim at the age of the officials, all while devouring some pasta – all in a day's work for the tennis sensation.
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He took aim at the crowd, saying: “A lot of disrespect was being thrown today from the crowds. I’m just starting to think that it’s normal when it’s really not.
“I didn’t say anything to the crowd until they started just every time I came down to the far end, people just going. It’s just I don’t know if it’s normal or not.
“Just pure disrespect, just anything. Someone just yelled out I was s**t in the crowd today. Is that normal? No. I just don’t understand why it’s happening over and over again.
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“Have you ever gone to a supermarket and just started berating someone scanning the groceries? No. So why do they do it when I’m at Wimbledon? Why is that?”
The Australian also touched on an incident where he was accused of lacking respect for a line judge who he believed got a call wrong and blamed it on their age.
He was allegedly overheard saying: “90-year-olds can’t see the ball.”
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At the press conference, he denied using those exact words, however, did have an issue with the age of the umpire.
He said: “No, I said most of the umpires are older, and I just don’t think that’s ideal when you’re playing a sport of such small margins. Factually, people that are younger have better eyesight. Do you not think that’s appropriate? When you’re playing at a sport for hundreds and thousands of dollars, do you not think that we should have people that are really ready to call the ball in or out?”
The reporter then pointed out that someone who is older doesn’t ‘necessarily’ have worse eyesight.
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Kyrgios replied: “What do you mean not necessarily? What does he mean? What do you mean not necessarily? That specific thing, I hit a ball in, the old man called it out, it was in. So arguably if the guy was 40, he may not have called that out.”
The tennis star also later admitted to spitting at a fan but believed he was entitled to his actions.
When asked if he spat toward someone in the crowd, he replied: "Of one of the people disrespecting me, yes."
The 27-year-old added: "Like, he literally came to the match to not even support anyone really, it was more just to stir up and disrespect. That's fine. But if I give it back to you, then that's just how it is."
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Just one round into the tournament and we’ve probably had the best press conference of the entire competition.
Topics: Tennis, Wimbledon, Nick Kyrgios, Australia
Jayden Collins