He might be Australia’s next big thing in tennis, but Nick Kyrgios is not the most popular figure.
The world number 12 lost himself a few fans after claiming he was more excited by the prospect of hatching an egg on Pokemon Go than with earning a break point, although he did respond well to the criticism.
Kyrgios has been out in Shanghai this week, playing the latest stop on the ATP tour. Though ‘playing’ might be a bit of an overstatement.
After complaining that he was “bored” during his first round victory over Sam Querrey, he decided to do this in the second round against Germany’s Mischa Zverev.
In case you were wondering, he didn’t win the game.
Nick Kyrgios just threw away a match in Shanghai with serves such as this. Pathetic pic.twitter.com/v2N5G02Nt0
— Oliver Brown (@oliverbrown_tel) October 12, 2016
It reminds us of that one annoying mate everyone has who will give up on a game of FIFA or PES the second they go 3-0 down, launching into brutal tackles in an attempt to get their own players sent off and forfeit the game.
Kyrgios was booed off court, according to the BBC, and the reaction on Twitter wasn’t a whole lot more friendly.
I've defended Nick Kyrgios before, but his antics in Shanghai were pathetic.
— Joe Curtis (@jccurtis1) October 12, 2016
Thats just criminal from Kyrgios, whatever the reason you can't disrespect the sport
— Tennis (@atp_wta_itf) October 12, 2016
Though there were some people willing to defend the 21-year-old, who reached the third round at Flushing Meadows and Roland Garros this year.
What IS outrageous: tennis media who need smelling salts to deal with Kyrgios but go overboard in welcoming Sharapova back to the sport
— Alex Macpherson (@alex_macpherson) October 12, 2016
It's very easy to mock and criticise Kyrgios but it's clear – and he's said as much – that he has many demons he can't deal with. https://t.co/VxXgflodOl
— Utah (@JohnnyUtah100) October 12, 2016
The youngster apologised for his performance, saying he was “not good enough today on many levels,” though he criticised some of the spectators who decided to boo him.
Not good enough today on many levels, I'm better than that. I can go on about excuses but there are none. Sorry #StillAWorkInProgress 🙏🏽😢😞
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) October 12, 2016
“I can’t really understand it at all. They don’t know what I’m going through,” he said.
“If you don’t like it, I didn’t ask you to come watch. Just leave. If you’re so good at giving advice and so good at tennis, why aren’t you as good as me? Why aren’t you on the tour?”
