As Nick Kyrgios faces a four week ban from the ATP Tour in yet another on court tantrum, he’s temporarily traded in his arguments with the umpires for Twitter feuds with AFL players.
Kyrgios received an unsportsmanlike conduct warning at the Shanghai Masters during his 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
After receiving one warning following his “f—ing ridiculous” slur, Kyrgios appeared to lose his temper when a following serve was called out as a fault.
After Nishikori hit the fault back Kyrgios belted it down the court and narrowly missed a line judge, who moved out of the way just in time.
“How can you give me a conduct warning for that? I didn’t hit anyone,” argued Kyrgios following the umpire’s call reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
“It was about this far [an arm’s length] away,” Kyrgios responded, before demanding the tournament supervisor intervene.
“But he had to jump out of the way,” replied Umpire Mohamed Layhani, adding “for me, it’s dangerous. It’s risky”.
Adelaide Crows Captain Taylor Walker clearly sided with Layhani, tweeting: “When is this absolute Galoot going to learn. What a dead set flog!! Just suspend the peanut!!”
Kyrgios responded, and then former Adelaide Crows player Patrick Dangerfield stepped in to defend his old teammate.
Here’s how it played out:
Deuce? We think game, set and match.
Taylor Walker and Patrick Dangerfield.
