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Kyrgios has musical meltdown
Already down a set and trailing 3-5 in the second against Tomas Berdych, Nick Kyrgios heard something that did not agree with him at all.
PT1M17S 620 349Nick Kyrgios fired a parting shot at chair umpire James Keothavong, describing the official's performance in his third round loss to Tomas Berdych as "unprofessional".
A dejected Kyrgios walked off Rod Laver Arena on Friday night, uttering words to the umpire following a controversial outing for the 21-year-old Australian.
No punishment: Nick Kyrgios has escaped punishment for answering his phone on court. Photo: Getty Images
Kyrgios, who fell in four sets to the veteran Czech, was heard saying: "you're a terrible referee" as he shook hands with Keothavong after the match.
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In the post match press conference he was asked to explain his exchange with the official, voicing his frustration with the way he handled the match when music could clearly be heard echoing around the arena.
"Yeah, I just told him what I thought," Kyrgios said.
Seeking help: Nick Kyrgios is hoping to overcome his on-court anger issues. Photo: Getty Images
"I don't think he controlled the match well. He let a guy throw a ball back into play, which for me is pretty unprofessional. As I said previously, you know, music playing during points. First time I've ever seen it happen."
After letting his frustrations get the better of him when a fan threw back a stray ball on to the court during a point, the world No.30 then got himself worked up over the music that sounded like it was coming from the crowd.
"It was just strange. He was telling me he couldn't hear it," Kyrgios said.
Ugly spat: Nick Kyrgios of Australia argues with the chair umpire during his third-round loss against Tomas Berdych. Photo: Pat Scala
"I don't know, I just thought he might have used the microphone to say, 'Could you quiet it down.' I don't know. I've never had it happen to me before ... he didn't tell the crowd to quieten down if it was coming from the crowd, which I think is a fair thing to do if you're in the chair."
While it sounded like the music was coming from the crowd, there was a suggestion it was background noise from the Big Bash semi final across the road at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"I don't know where it came from," Kyrgios said.
"The ref was telling me he couldn't hear it. I could blatantly hear it. So unless tennis, you can start playing tennis when there's music in the background, that's a new rule. They need to add it to the rule book."
A heartbroken Kyrgios said he felt like he let people down after failing to book a passage into the second week of the tournament.
"I'm so disappointed, like I put so much work in, and I just feel like I let a lot of people down," he said.
"I don't know. I was expecting a bit more out of myself. I don't know. I was expecting like another real deep run. I put a lot of work in. It's pretty heartbreaking ... I thought if I grabbed the fourth, I would win the fifth. I felt fine physically. But I didn't take it there, so it's not really a conversation to have."
Kyrgios also spoke of his desire to take over the mantle from retiring legend Lleyton Hewitt, but admits he still has a long way to go to enter that category.
"I would love to [take over]. I thought it was really sad seeing him go," Kyrgios said.
"Seeing his family come on the court was pretty emotional. Yeah, for me, I wasn't tearing up, but I obviously felt pretty sad. I'm doing everything I can to try to take over for what he's left. But I'm a bit far away now. There's a little work to do."
Kyrgios was an emotional wreck in the opening two sets but relaxed and took a different approach in the third set with immediate success.
However, he was unable to sustain it in the fourth, bowing out with a double fault.
"Yeah, I was having a lot of fun actually. I think from the start, it just has to be like that," Kyrgios said.
"I maybe walked out there too serious. Maybe walked out there trying to focus too much on what I had to do. I probably should just go out there and try to enjoy myself, have fun, not take it so seriously, probably like the third set."