Nick Kyrgios stepped off court to smash two racquets and toss his shoes to spectators Wednesday in a meltdown during a second-round ATP Cincinnati Masters loss to Russia’s Karen Khachanov.
Eighth-seeded Khachanov rallied for a 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 victory over the volatile Australian, but the final set was close to farce, with Kyrgios engaged in a running dialogue with Irish chair umpire Fergus Murphy.
“He has a really great talent but sometimes the head not in the right place,” Khachanov said.
“It was a really difficult match for me – I had to really work it out, how to get the win.
“It’s really tough [playing Kyrgios], not only for me but for everybody. You have to try and handle it, then you can have chances to win the match. Always try to stay in there.”
Kyrgios, who won his sixth career ATP singles crown two weeks ago in Washington, also complained last week in Toronto in an apparent dispute as to why he could not have a white towel during a match.
"Absolute rubbish...Disgrace."
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) August 15, 2019
Nick Kyrgios is fired up again after a time violation.
Cincinnati Masters live on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jWLnvasdZQ
World number 27 Kyrgios, rarely far from controversy, was defaulted three months ago after throwing a chair as he quit a match in Rome.
The latest iteration of the Kyrgios saga erupted after he lost the second set to Khachanov.
Sitting in his chair at the pause, Kyrgios suddenly announced he was going on a bathroom break, with Murphy telling him there was no time.
The Aussie walked anyway, carrying two racquets with him. Television showed him going through a stadium door partly made of glass and smashing his racquets before collecting them and walking back onto court.
All the while, he was nagging and occasionally cursing at Murphy.
BANG, BANG!! 💥💥
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) August 15, 2019
Nick Kyrgios absolutely DESTROYED two racquets and the commentators lost it 😂 😂
Watch the Cincinnati Masters live on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/q2d2dTeND3
( 🎥@TennisTV ) #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/Pk7sxB9o4b
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) August 15, 2019
Kyrgios calmly held his own at the start of the final set, producing a hold which featured three aces.
But it was the ice-calm Khachanov who took advantage, breaking for 4-2 and running out to a 5-2 margin.
Kyrgios, by now hardly in the match, double-faulted to hand over two match points and served up another double after saving a first match point.
He refused to shake Murphy’s hand on the way off court and tossed his shoes and other soft articles into the crowd and handing his broken racquets to young fans before walking off.
At one point in the drama, Kyrgios stood at the back of the court, wrapping his racquet grip, which Murphy kept telling him he was not ready.
Kyrgios told Khachanov to go ahead and serve, but the Russian declined until all was in place on the Kyrgios side of the net.
Tournament supervisor Gerry Armstrong sat near the court, observing, but was not called upon to make any ruling during the bizarre closing stages of the evening.
Khachanov will play Frenchman Lucas Pouille in Thursday’s third round.
Kyrgios gets a code violation for swearing. Not wanting a point penalty, he leaves the court to destroy two rackets.
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) August 15, 2019
Fergus Murphy has NO IDEA what to do. He says on the radio, "he left with two rackets and came back with two BROKEN rackets."😂
Kyrgios didn’t get a racquet abuse warning but he did get a time violation warning because he was regripping his new racquet as Khachanov waited to serve.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 15, 2019
“Does Rafa play this sport?” Kyrgios inquires. “I want to play what he plays.” #CincyTennis
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 15, 2019
Kyrgios: “why do I have to put up with this potato in the chair? Every time” (referring to Murphy who is Irish)
— enrico maria riva (@enricomariariva) August 15, 2019
Fergus Murphy has called several Nick Kyrgios matches in 2019 including Delray Beach, Queen's, Washington & Cincinnati...In each one there has been at least one incident #ATP #Cincytennis pic.twitter.com/sbYOo801Aa
— John Horn (@SportsHorn) August 15, 2019
Do Not Disturb 🙅♂️😂
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) August 15, 2019
🎥: @TennisTV | @NickKyrgios | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/NIhQmKaZg3