His “the one who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks, bro” rant to the chair umpire has gone viral but Nick Kyrgios has hit back at suggestions his lack of mental toughness cost him the Wimbledon final.
The Australian’s temper exploded at a crucial stage of the third set against Novak Djokovic after a rowdy heckler distracted Kyrgios sufficiently for a double fault to be taken to deuce, earning his first code violation of the match, venting furiously at chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein for not acting earlier.
A pair of booming serves rescued the game, but Kyrgios wasn’t done.
“She’s drunk out of her mind… she’s the one who looks like she’s had 700 drinks,” he said to Lichtenstein as he tried to get her ejected.
Australian doubles legend Todd Woodbridge said Kyrgios lost his focus in the third set as his Serbian opponent recovered from a set down to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to claim a seventh title at the All England Club.
The titanic three-hour tussle featured only three service breaks – two to one in Djokovic’s favour – but Kyrgios was left to rue dropping serve from 40-love up at 4-4 in the pivotal third set.
Nick Kyrgios of Australia congratulates Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)
The combustible Canberran claimed to have been distracted by a female spectator talking between his serves.
Asked if he needed to improve his composure, Kyrgios took offence.
“I think the other 126 players in the draw could improve their composure,” he said.
“But at times out there, obviously I was getting angry a bit because I just looked at it as, (if) you win this tournament, you become the tennis immortal, I feel.
“It was just an opportunity for me that people work their entire life for.
“I put myself in a position to win the first set. Things started to get rocky a bit. He was just solid. Then I win that fourth set and who knows.
Nick Kyrgios complains to the umpire in the men’s singles final against Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)
“I mean, yeah, I can obviously improve many things in my game, not just composure. My forehand return needs to improve. I’ve been working on that a lot. Can always get stronger. Can always get fitter.
“I feel like that (question) was a bit of a dig, but I feel like everyone in the draw can improve something.”
Contesting his maiden grand slam final against an all-time great playing in his record-breaking 32nd, Kyrgios lauded Djokovic as just too good at the clutch moments.
“He’s just really composed,” said the vanquished runner-up.
“It’s weird, I felt like he didn’t do anything amazing today. He returned obviously the way he returns. I feel like he’s just a great returner.
“But he was just so composed. That’s what I was just thinking to myself. In big moments, it just felt like he was never rattled.
“I feel like that’s his greatest strength. He just looks completely within himself the whole time. Didn’t look like he was playing over-aggressive, even though it felt like he was playing big.
“Hats off to him.”
Despite the gut-wrenching defeat, Kyrgios departed the All England Club feeling like a winner.
“There’s just weight off my shoulders,” said tennis’s most prodigious but unfulfilled talent.
“I feel like there’s so much weight on my shoulders all the time when I step out on the tennis court. Now it’s just released and I feel amazing.
“This is the best I’ve felt the two weeks. I was obviously super excited to be here and I had some high hopes, but I’ve never felt, to be honest, good.
“I just felt so much pressure. There’s so much, like, anxiety, pressure to do things or achieve things. If I don’t do well, like it’s just so much.
“So I feel unbelievable. Like I’m two beers deep.”