Bernard Tomic crashed out of the US Open first round in a four-set upset loss to world no. 72 Damir Dzumhur, but it won’t be the loss that will be remembered.
Instead, it will be his tirade against a fan during the early stages as he struggled to gain any traction in the match.
It came during the first set of the match, which the Australian went onto lose 6-4. Tomic never settled into his rhythm, and despite forcing a fourth set was never truly in it against Dzumhur, who blasted him off the court.
The incident, which is believed to have been sparked by the fan was caught by the on-court microphones after Tomic looked a little agitated on court in the general direction of the crowd.
What the on-court microphones picked up though continues a long history of trouble for Tomic.
While it was muttered, and maybe not intended for anyone to hear, the Australian was picked up saying “suck my balls” and “I’ll put my balls in your mouth.”
It put Dzumhur off his serve as he faulted, before Tomic was again picked up talking, saying “I’ll give you some money to make you feel good.”
While he wasn’t disciplined on-court, he did appear to have a chat with chair umpire Cedric Mourier, but was informed that the fan couldn’t be stopped unless he broke the code of conduct.
Tomic was unable to move on from the incident, and despite fighting back to take the second set would eventually crash out in a 7-0 loss during the fourth set tie-breaker, meaning yet another early exit from a grand slam for the maligned star.
Post match, Tomic told the media it wasn’t a frustrating day, but that Dzumhur (or he – yep Tomic didn’t actually mention his name) just played a good match.
Tomic went on to say that “everyone looked too far ahead and prospected me and Nick in the third round. Everyone wanted to see that, and the media was too focused on it. I think that I didn’t give everyone what they wanted so full credit to the player I played today.”
When asked if the media expectation had disrupted his focus, Tomic told the media he was tired because he has played a lot of Tennis.
When asked about the incident though, Tomic wasn’t so keen to talk.
“He was baiting me, and I don’t want to get into it, but I apologised for what I said to him. He left after the first set and I think the crowd was happy because he was a bit annoying.”
Winston
Guest
I'm with Danwain on all of these comments. Make no mistake about it, Kyrgios is not a nice person. But I totally get it that he's doing a job which he doesn't particularly like, so if he doesn't have to do it he probably won't. Why does he keep doing it then? Because it's his job, just like why you and I have to do our jobs.
northerner
Guest
He needs to show gratitude for the fact that our tax money is paying for him to become proficient at his calling, and he isn't going to have to pay it back, unlike the average doctor, dentist, engineer or nuclear physicist. If we financed the brainiest people in this country the way we finance the most athletic, we'd be a better country for it.
danwain
Guest
Yeah I do want to blame parents, because if a kid is already copying Kyrgios at 11,12 & 13 then they have certainly done something wrong in those proceeding years instilling values in the, that will serve them going into their teenage years. My son is 13 and seems fully aware that copying Kyrgios is not the way to go about life. Strahge as isn't Kyrgios supposed to be making him act like a twat because they are both on social media?
1st&10
Guest
stay classy Bernard -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Train Without A Terminus
Guest
Hi there 1st & 10...
Train Without A Terminus
Guest
I've caught heaps of fish and the ones that go off seem to rot from the guts... doos
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
The guy is viral on social media with kids, plays Pokemon Go with kids ten years junior and you want to blame parents if kids ape him? Name your planet mate. Haven't been anywhere strange recently.
danwain
Guest
He needs to show us gratitude for what exactly, paying our taxes?
danwain
Guest
You all act as if he is personally attacking you, when he is just playing tennis for a living. And that's what he is doing, playing sport for a living, whether you agree with it or not, that's exactly what he is doing. He wouldn't be doing it if he wasn't making money, so it's a job, any other view is just wrong. And this role model stuff, if children have Kyrgios as a role model that lands back on the parents, not Nick Kyrgios. And we are supposed to feel sorry for his sponsors, gee I do worry that Nike aren't getting the revenue streams they expected when they signed a 19 year old hot head into their stable.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Its a completely spurious arguement to say he is doing a job he doesnt like. Like it or not, professional sports is not just a job. You cant switch on and off when you want without caring about people who depend on you because you set out on this journey - your fans, your sponsors. And even more importantly how your behaviour impacts kids. In a normal job I can slack off I i dont like it but it doesnt impact young minds. Kyrgios's stupid tweets and on and offc ourt behaviour does just that. I have an article on him on the site now titled "Catch Kyrgios but dont ask him to play tennis", an this whole thing is just beyond belief.
northerner
Guest
Kitty Chillers was not responsible for the poor performance of the athletes (not that it was that poor, just below overhyped expectation). As for American boors, the heckler was apparently yelling at him in Bosnian. So, do you have any more stereotypes you'd like to use to justify poor behaviour?
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Just unbelievable. Tomic not only behaves badly, the guy also doesnt show up to play tennis with any degree of seriousness, when he feels like it. And the two ARE connected. Lets see how Kyrgios turns out in this tournament. Not too differently if he doesnt get his focus to stay on his tennis.
northerner
Guest
Nah, but he might show a bit of gratitude to the folks who helped him get there - and that is us, the taxpayers, BTW.
Womblat
Guest
I'll go you one better and say fully half the whole non-competing Olympic entourage need to be sacked. What a huge waste of money on a spoiled pack of underachievers. But "Good on Bernie" you say, JS? For this rubbish? I think your moral compass has pre-empted the upcoming polar flip.
danwain
Guest
So he takes the funding and wins a slam, that's better than 95% of the other tennis players that have been funded in by TA in history. Just because he received funding doesn't mean he should serve TA and bow to their every whim for the next 10 years.
richo
Guest
Kyrgios will improve as he gets older...dont forget at 20 Hewitt was Australia's most hated sportsman nationally. Tomic unfortunately has had a poor upbringing and his lack of respect and inclination to stop trying will be his legacy. I think things will go very badly for him after he stops playing unfortunately, lots of trouble.
richo
Guest
Greg Norman missed majors because the crowd was against him? lol I think The Shark was a bit harder than you give him credit for
Peter GC
Guest
Not a problem to say it at all mate if he hadn't taken all the funding from Tennis Australia to get there..
AR
Guest
My god both of these kids just go from bad to worse.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Why do we still give this guy press.