Mercurial Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios admitted he spat in the direction of a spectator during his first-round win at Wimbledon 2022, saying he was being harassed by a man who stood in the grass-court major But was.
Nick Kyrgios confronted the onlooker who apparently booed him and spat in his direction and complained of being insulted frequently in recent days.
Kyrgios needed 5 sets to beat British wildcard Paul Jubb as he came 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-5 in a first-round men’s singles match.
The 27-year-old complained of racial slurs from a crowd in Stuttgart earlier this month and though he said the heckling at Wimbledon was not racially motivated.
Kyrgios said, “I’m just starting to think it’s normal when it really isn’t. I didn’t say anything to the crowd until they started every time, until I got too far Come, people were just leaving.”
“One of those people disrespecting me, yeah. I wouldn’t do that to someone who was supporting me.
“I turned to him as soon as I won the match … I’ve struggled with hatred and negativity for a long time, so I don’t think I owe anything to that person.
“He literally didn’t even come into the match to support anyone. It was just to stir and disrespect.”
Kyrgios unhappy with line judge call
Meanwhile, Kyrgios also had an argument with a line judge as he complained about a call from the chair umpire to what he felt was a snitch during the first set against him in a topsy-turvy first-round match. went.
“I said most of the umpires are older and I don’t think it’s ideal when you’re playing such a small difference game. In fact, people who are younger have better eyesight,” Kyrgios said.
“When you’re playing a game for hundreds and thousands of dollars, don’t you think we should have people who are ready to call the ball in or out?”
Kyrgios, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2014, will take on 29th seed Filip Krajinovic in his second round match on Thursday.