In a controversial episode at the Miami Open, Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has once again drawn criticism for his hot-tempered demeanor on the court. This occurred during his defeat against Karen Khachanov, marking his second appearance in three days following an extended hiatus due to injury.
Earlier in the week, Kyrgios had hinted at a promising comeback, effortlessly sailing to a win over Mackenzie Macdonald in the tournament’s opening round. However, his performance against Khachanov failed to meet the expectations set by his initial victory.
During the match, Kyrgios’s fiery temper flared up on multiple occasions, with one incident involving a ball kid drawing particular attention. After failing to secure a 5-4 lead in the first set, Kyrgios was seen shouting towards his team. Such behavior is not uncommon for the volatile Australian. However, what followed was a display of disrespect towards one of the young volunteers on the court.
In a gesture demanding his towel to wipe his face, Kyrgios turned to a ball kid. The young volunteer, failing to interpret the gesture, bounced a ball towards the player instead. Frustrated, Kyrgios shot back with a sharp retort, “Towel, bro. Is this a ball?”
The incident was rapidly shared across social media platforms, leading to a wave of backlash against the 29-year-old tennis player. Critics on Reddit were swift to condemn his behavior, with one user stating, “The ‘tennis needs villains’ era is over. He’s just rude and nasty for no reason.” Another user quipped, “Nah if I’m the ball boy I’m throwing him balls every time he asks for the towel now.”
The match concluded with Kyrgios losing 7-6 (7-3) 6-0, as he seemed to lose energy towards the end, securing just seven points in his second-set bagel at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Following his defeat, Kyrgios took to the internet to acknowledge his opponent’s superior performance, stating, “Honestly today was a big stepping stone. Karen Khachanov was just too good.” He went on to add, “We played a great first set but encouraging that I could finish two matches this week, plenty to work on. Thank you, old friend and good luck for the rest of the tournament.” Despite the controversy, it appears that Kyrgios is determined to use this experience as a stepping stone for future improvements.
