Furious Nick Kyrgios Slams Crown Behavior, Officials After Wimbledon Win - UBITENNIS

Furious Nick Kyrgios Slams Crown Behavior, Officials After Wimbledon Win

The Australian didn't hold back during an explosive press conference.

By Adam Addicott
6 Min Read
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) playing against Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) in the third round of the Gentlemen's Singles on No.1 Court at The Championships 2021. Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. Day 6 Saturday 03/07/2021. Credit: AELTC/Jonathan Nackstrand

An irritated Nick Kyrgios said he received ‘a lot of disrespect’ from the crowd during his first round win at Wimbledon but none of it was linked to racism.

The tennis star has warned that poor behaviour from tennis fans watching from the sidelines has become a problem in the sport during a lengthy press conference at The All England Club. Kyrgios defeated Great Britain’s Paul Jubb 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-5, during what was a rollercoaster encounter where he locked horns with the court officials over a call. Although it was the crowd who he was most unhappy about.

“A lot of disrespect was being thrown today from the crowds. I’m just starting to think that it’s normal when it’s really not,” said Kyrgios. “I didn’t say anything to the crowd until they started just every time I came down to the far end, people just going. It’s just I don’t know if it’s normal or not.”
“Someone just yelled out I was shit in the crowd today. Is that normal? No. But I just don’t understand why it’s happening over and over again.”
He added.

Kyrgios, who reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon back in 2014, believes the deterioration in crowd behaviour is linked to a rise in social media abuse. Something he and his family continuously get. One example he mentioned was that of his brother who has alopecia with online trolls making shocking cancer jokes about him.

“I think people, spectators, everyone is so quick to just negatively put their energy on someone else. And there are no real consequences,” he fumed.
“On social media, you can just bash someone on social media and there’s no real consequence. Now, whether it’s racial abuse or just disrespect, it’s acceptable. But why is that acceptable?”

Known for his fiery personality, Kyrgios has never been a player to let things go and is never afraid to clap back at those heckling him. Today following his win over Rudd, he spat in front of those he said were ‘disrespecting him.’

“I’m okay with receiving a lot of it. But what I don’t understand is as soon as I give it back, for instance in Stuttgart I gave it back, I got a game penalty.” He said.
“I’ve been dealing with hate and negativity for a long time, so I don’t feel like I owe that person anything. He (a spectator) literally came to the match to just, like, not even support anyone. It was more just to, like, stir up and disrespect. That’s fine. But if I give it back to you, then that’s just how it is.”

Umpires get less abuse than players

Whilst condemning the behaviour of some at Wimbledon on Tuesday, the tennis star was also criticized by others for his conduct during the match.

At one stage he argued with a linesman over a shot that was called out but later ruled in. Speaking about the incident afterwards he suggested that younger people should be calling the lines because ‘factually they are more likely to have better eyesight.’ When challenged by one journalist over his remarks who points out older people can have 20/20 eyesight, Kyrgios hit back.

“When you’re playing a sport for hundreds and thousands of dollars, do you not think that we should have people that are really ready to call the ball in or out?” he replied.

In another incident, he was heard calling a linesperson a ‘snitch.’ When asked to reflect on that comment and if he had any regret, Kyrgios responded ‘That’s what she did. I didn’t do anything and she went to the umpire and told her something that I didn’t say. That’s called whistleblowing.”

As for match umpires, Kyrgios says his previous arguments with them have always resulted in him getting the raw deal through social media abuse. He went on to state that it is always the player who receives more abuse than the umpire. When asked if he has ever seen an umpire’s Instagram inbox he didn’t give a clear answer but still stands by what he said.

“I heavily doubt they would be dealing with… Do you think they would be dealing with the same amount of hate?” Kyrgios claims.
“I just know factually, like if we go through my Instagram compared to an umpire’s, it’s disgusting some of the things I deal with.”

Kyrgios has now won 16 main draw matches at Wimbledon.

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