The Australian tennis star is currently facing legal action over his antics at Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios has lashed out over crowd behaviour again, this time turning his attention to smoking, rather than drinking.
The Australian tennis star, who famously had a woman thrown out of the men’s final of Wimbledon after accusing her of having “700 drinks”, got heated at the US Open in New York.
The 27-year-old was on the cusp of clinching himself a spot in the third round when he lost his cool over the crowd’s alleged antics.
His match against World No. 50 Benjamin Bonzi then turned sour as Kyrgios yelled at the chair umpire that people in the crowd were smoking weed.
“It was f**king marijuana,” he said, according to news.com.au. “Obviously when athletes are running side to side and they have asthma, it’s probably not ideal.”
Fiollow up: announcer claims marijuana smell coming from loading dock and he saw the culprits puffing. Also says he’s never heard a player complain about weed smoke before… pic.twitter.com/vwCl3Tv5eR
— DannyDanko (@DannyDanko) August 31, 2022
The chair umpire responded to Kyrgios’ complaint by making an announcement to the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen as a courtesy to the players please refrain yourselves from smoking around the court. Thank you,” the umpire said, as per Eurosport.
According to news.com.au, Aussie commentator Todd Woodbridge, also mentioned the claims during his coverage, saying: “Nick has asked the umpire to remind the crowd about smoking saying he thinks he can smell someone smoking marijuana, never without drama are we?”
"She's drunk out of her mind and talking to me in the middle of a game. She's the one who looks like she's had 700 drinks."
Classic Nick Kyrgios#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/mhDw7M2Zbd
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) July 10, 2022
Kyrgios won the match in the fourth set, 6-4.
The star’s latest outburst comes a week after the sports fan he accused of being drunk during the men’s final between Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon announced plans to take Kyrgios to court.
Anna Palus denied claims she was intoxicated, saying she only had two drinks on the day and was trying to support him.
In a statement, the 32-year-old Polish medical lawyer has since decided to launch defamation proceedings against Kyrgios in order to “clear her name”, MailOnline reports.
Issued through her solicitors Brett Wilson, Palus wrote she had attended the event with her mother, and had been “looking forward to for some time”.
“During the course of the final, Nick Kyrgios made a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me,” the statement reads.
“Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios’s false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress.
“I am not litigious, but after much consideration, I have concluded that that I have no alternative but to instruct my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to bring defamation proceedings against Mr Kyrgios in order to clear my name.
“The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegation, are the only reasons for taking legal action.”
Palus said any damages she receives will be donated to charity and ended her statement by saying she hoped Kyrgios will “reflect on the harm he has caused me and my family and offer a prompt resolution to this matter”.
“However, if he is unwilling to do this, I am committed to obtaining vindication in the High Court.”
Related links:
- Woman sues Nick Kyrgios after he had her thrown out of Wimbledon for ‘having 700 drinks’
- How much Nick Kyrgios has been fined for swearing in front of Prince George at Wimbledon
- Nick Kyrgios could face two years in prison over assault claims as ex-girlfriend speaks out
- Nick Kyrgios tells reporter ‘I do what I want’ after defying Wimbledon dress code
- Nick Kyrgios called ‘evil bully’ by Stefanos Tsitsipas after heated encounter
