In the Miami Open, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has found himself in the crosshairs of public criticism following his controversial conduct during a match against Karen Khachanov. Known for his fiery temperament, Kyrgios had just returned to the tennis circuit after an extended hiatus due to injury, causing his presence on the court to be all the more noticeable.
Coming off a smooth win against Mackenzie Macdonald in the tournament’s first round, Kyrgios hinted at a promising comeback. However, his performance against Khachanov failed to deliver the same level of excellence. It was during this match that he lost his temper multiple times, with one particular incident involving a ball kid drawing widespread condemnation.
During the first set, an agitated Kyrgios missed a shot that would have given him a 5-4 lead. Recognizing this as a classic Kyrgios moment, he vented his frustration by yelling towards his team – a spectacle that has become somewhat customary over his career. However, he then turned his ire towards a young court-side volunteer. The tennis professional demanded his towel, an innocent request on the surface but delivered with a harsh tone.
The young ball kid, perhaps not fully comprehending the situation, misinterpreted Kyrgios’ gesture and tossed him a tennis ball instead. Without missing a beat, Kyrgios retorted with a curt: “Towel, bro. Is this a ball?” His abrasiveness was not lost on the public, and a video of the episode soon made rounds on the internet, drawing a wave of criticism.
One Reddit user commented: “The ‘tennis needs villains’ era is over. He’s just rude and nasty for no reason.” Another chimed in with: “Entitled much…?” Others noted that despite his time off the court, Kyrgios’ attitude remained unchecked. One user humorously suggested that if they were the ball boy, they would continue to throw balls at Kyrgios whenever he asked for a towel.
Kyrgios’ performance in the match mirrored his behaviour, as he lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-0, running out of energy in the latter stages and only managing to score seven points in the second set. The match, held at the Hard Rock Stadium, ended in a disappointing loss for the Australian.
Following the match, Kyrgios took to the internet to admit his opponent’s superior performance. He acknowledged that Khachanov, with whom he has had previous public disagreements, was the better player that day. Despite his setbacks, Kyrgios showed a hint of optimism, stating: “Honestly today was a big stepping stone… 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.”