Nick Kyrgios has made a typically volatile Wimbledon exit, the tennis enigma accused of tanking during a rollercoaster four-set fourth-round loss to classy Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
In a bizarre and at times listless performance, Kyrgios crashed to a 7-5 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (8-6) defeat on Monday, ending Australia’s participation in the singles for another year.
Kyrgios came into the match with hopes of winning the title after taking out world No.8 Milos Raonic with a scintillating third-round display.
His march to the last 16, following his heroics at the All England Club last year and another quarter-final charge at the Australian Open, had tennis greats Mats Wilander, John McEnroe and John Newcombe agreeing it would be crazy to write the young sensation off.
But Kyrgios fought with his players’ box, cursed himself as “so dumb, so dumb” and blatantly didn’t try in one return game during an eventful encounter on the very same Show Court Two in which he saved a grand slam-record nine match points to conquer Gasquet last year.
He saved two match points in the third set and held two set points in the fourth set to raise hopes of another famous comeback win.
Lightning didn’t strike twice, though, as Kyrgios surrendered the match with his 10th double-fault in the fourth-set tiebreaker, bowing out after two hours and 53 minutes.
There was nothing to suggest Kyrgios wouldn’t blow Gasquet off the court after he broke the 21st seed in the opening game with a blaze of winners.
But Gasquet hit back with a scorching forehand pass to level proceedings at 2-all before Kyrgios unravelled.
Constantly under pressure as Gasquet began to prey on his second serve, Kyrgios conceded the first set with a netted forehand.
“So bad … so bad,” he said at the changeovers.
“Serving so bad. Oh my God.”
Kyrgios’ struggles continued in the second set as he twice double-faulted and barely tried in the fourth game before falling behind 5-0.
Seemingly upset with his racquet stringing, Kyrgios took his frustrations out on his manager John Morris, now also coaching the firebrand after he split with Todd Larkham on the eve of the championships.
“Thanks, you guys, thanks,” he said, pointing to his support staff.
“I asked for one thing. One thing.”
Kyrgios then received a code violation and could be heard telling someone in the crowd to “just leave”.
He avoided a bagel but still dropped the second set in just 24 minutes amid a flurry of wild errors.
Kyrgios continued to chide himself but briefly surged to raise hopes of another fightback after famously recovering from two sets down against Gasquet in the second round last year.
But even after charging to a 3-0 lead, Kyrgios never appeared comfortable.
Irritated by the chair umpire’s hurry-up during another changeover, he said: “Mate, Rafa (Nadal) and stuff take 30 seconds between points. I’m just changing my socks.
“Do you want to ask him? Richard, I’m just changing my socks.
“See? He’s fine. Unbelievable.”
Kyrgios sought a hug from a ball boy after netting a routine forehand volley to give up his third-set break as Gasquet levelled at 3-3.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” he then muttered after firing a forehand wide to stand on the brink of defeat at break points down serving at 4-4.
He held on for 5-4 as tensions rose.
A double-fault from Gasquet gifted Kyrgios a set point, but the one-time semi-finalist produced a breathtaking round-the-net-post backhand winner from metres outside the court.
Kyrgios netted an attempted backhand pass on his second set point and was livid with umpire James Keothavong after a successful challenge showed his shot caught the baseline.
“This is bullshit, mate,” Kyrgios fumed at Keothavong before the point was replayed rather than Gasquet having to face another break point.
Kyrgios unleashed a blistering backhand pass and then hooked a courageous forehand winner to save match points in the tiebreaker before stealing the set with a forehand thunderbolt.
He let out a mighty roar in celebration as Gasquet obliterated his racquet to earn his own code violation.
But Gasquet regained his composure as Kyrgios lost his nerve, double-faulting on his first set point and netting a backhand on his second, as the Frenchman booked a quarter-final against either fourth-seeded French Open champion Stan Wawrinka or Belgian David Goffin.
Steve
Guest
Perhaps it's the myth that qualities like "mateship", "giving it a go", etc. aren't unique to Australia. Those who see it like that tend to be a little bit thick, as if no other people or nation on earth value these qualities. What does it mean to be "Australian"? There is no such one-thing obviously other than "being born or migrated to Australia and identifying as Australian". Everything else is pure patriotic nonsense. Also, how can you possibly know that Kyrgios or Fraser doesn't appreciate being Australian (again whatever that means)? Going by what he has actually said, he said it's an honour to represent Australia at Davis Cup.
Freddy from Bondi
Guest
I think that's what you're missing here Sheek. Times have changed...to use a phrase that might have been common in the past, doesn't make it acceptable in today's society. It's only through calling out racism (whether intended or not) that we can finally overcome this crap. Who cares where his family is from...its not relevant to your point. I couldn't imagine you saying..."Todd Carney should look at his behaviour otherwise he should go and live in another country"...you're saying it because his family's heritage is not Anglo...
sheek
Roar Guru
A major problem with society today is an inability to understand context. Decades ago, someone could say, "we had a gay time", & no-one attributed any other meaning to it than enjoyment. Decades ago, someone could say, "well, you can always go back to somewhere else", & no-one attributed anything else to it other than a lack of appreciation for their current situation. Context.
Rocco75
Guest
Sheek, I normally like what you post on this website but this time I disagree. "In my parents time (same as Fraser) & my own generation, it was common to say something like, “well, if you don’t like it here, you go someplace else.”" I'm glad that time has passed (or has it?) because that was the time my parents were also subjected to the drivel from "your generation". Kyrgios is an idiot but it has nothing to do with his ethnic heritage.
Rocco75
Guest
"Both Tomic and Kyrgios might be good tennis player but they are not representative of the way the vast majority of Australians play their sport – hard but fair" so just like the Australian cricket team?? they play "hard but fair".........
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
"And if they know your ancestry, they might say, “well, you can always go back to ‘X’.”" And that right there is where you've overstepped the mark sheek. You either don't see it or you do and you don't care. Criticising Kyrios' behaviour is one thing - and I think you'll find that most people agree with you. But referring to his ancestry is not only irrelevant, but offensive.
sheek
Roar Guru
People like to throw the 'R' word rejoinder around, like it's the perfect riposte to kill a discussion. All it does is hide the issue. The issue here is Kyrgios' behaviour, in case anyone's forgotten. In my parents time (same as Fraser) & my own generation, it was common to say something like, "well, if you don't like it here, you go someplace else." And if they know your ancestry, they might say, "well, you can always go back to 'X'." It's about respecting & enjoying the privileges of being born & living up in Australia. Any other inference is misdirected.
Wally James
Roar Guru
I agree Gavin. He is all of that but sorry mate. What he did is not on . He should not do as he pleases. He should show respect and sportsmanship. He showed none. Both Tomic and Kyrgios might be good tennis player but they are not representative of the way the vast majority of Australians play their sport - hard but fair. If they are not representative they should not represent. Tomic has been dealt with fairly. Krygios should be given the opportunity to apologise and mend his ways or he should be out too. I would prefer to lose all Davis Cups with decent men and women who show respect. If that does not happen we will have a generation of brats playing tennis and the good name of Australian sport tarnished even more than their behaviour has already had done to it.
sheek
Roar Guru
Steve, Dawn Fraser doesn't speak for me, & I don't speak for her. But I understand what she's saying, & I don't see it as racist. Fraser's implication is that if you don't appreciate being Australian you can always go someplace else, irrespective of your heritage. BTW, I wasn't a fan of Hewitt's behaviour either.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Had actually had a go in the second he could of been serving for the game in the 4th. He was so brazen with his tanking it was ridiculous. The kid has plenty of talent but geeez he needs to pull his head in.
sheek
Roar Guru
Obviously emotions are getting high around here. I'm very comfortable with what I said, but if people wish to assume a different implication, then that's your perception, not my intention. I don't care if Kyrgios is Australian, Greek, Martian, or whatever, I don't approve of his behaviour. That ought to be the focus. Anything else is purely a sideshow.
Steve
Guest
Well what do you know...Sheek's mate Dawn Fraser proving my comments correct....
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Yup. Overstepped the mark with your reference to his heritage sheek. Unless you're happy for people to be telling you to shoot off to your ancestral home (whatever that might be)?
HarryT
Guest
This guy is just not coping. He's not a brat, mentally weak, disrespectful nor self absorbed. He has beaten Nadal and Federer and is the only teenage male to reach two Grand Slam quarterfinals since Federer in 2001. McEnroe has stated he will be a top 5 player. He is a kid who is not handling the pressures his management are presenting him. His raw talent has him playing tournaments that his body and mind aren't ready for, in other words his tennis abilities have developed faster than his body and mind. Give a four year old a club or racquet and you might end up with a champion, but don't for a second think you will end up with a well adjusted human.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
He did well to turn what was looking like a real disaster into a respectable loss but he played really poorly. Gasquet's level dropped quite a bit after the second set and Nick probably could have won the match if he took that fourth set tie break. I don't want to over react to one loss but his game does look a bit limited when exposed and I'm thinking he will end up more like a Tsonga than a genuine top player.
jamesb
Guest
Sheek I so often agree and respect your views. But leave Kyrios' heritage and Greece out of it.
Gavin
Guest
Two out of 20 million people dont represent you? He's young, stupid, immature, outlandish but thats just him. Let him do as he pleases.
Steve
Guest
Meh - Djokovic frequently let's sets go when he is not in the right state emotionally (tanking?) and often comes out firing in the next set. Kyrgios clearly was still playing to win, as evidenced by the 3rd and 4th sets. People on high horses with selective memories....
Steve
Guest
Agree - I've long said there is an underlying racism element to Kyrgios criticism and comments like this only reaffirm this belief. Besides, he's only half-Greek, why does the Malaysian side never come into things? Also, it's not like "our" little Lleyton wasn't EXACTLY the same at that age, before he matured. How people forget... Patrick "the great" Rafter also never actually won a Davis Cup for Australia (unlike say Phillipoussis who people also scold for being "unAustralian"), and he chose to live in the Bahamas to avoid paying taxes. But he speaks like a "true-blue" Aussie and has an Aussie name!
Torchbearer
Guest
I thought he was a bit of fun and character in men's tennis- until I listened closely to last nights rants. Spoiled bogan brat is all I could think. And for those who say he is 'young', kids were in the trenches in Gallipoli at 16,17 and 18, and not whinging like this spoilt millionaire.