Nick Kyrgios was booed off court and accused of giving up as he crashed out of the Australian Open second round in a stormy five-set defeat to Andreas Seppi yesterday
Nick Kyrgios, John McEnroe
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. Pic/AFP
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Melbourne: Nick Kyrgios was booed off court and accused of giving up as he crashed out of the Australian Open second round in a stormy five-set defeat to Andreas Seppi yesterday.
John McEnroe
In a madcap match, 14th seed Kyrgios looked in command with a two sets lead before a familiar meltdown in the third set changed the complexion of the contest. The 89th-ranked Seppi, who saved a match point, advanced to a third-round match with Belgium's Steve Darcis with a 1-6, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 win in three hours, nine minutes. Kyrgios was booed off the court by some of the fans, while tennis great John McEnroe hit out at the brash youngster. "What I don't understand, what I can't accept, is when he stops trying. It's a black eye for the sport," McEnroe said during television match commentary.
Kyrgios said of McEnroe's criticism: "My body was sore. I was hurting. I mean, John McEnroe. Good on him. Great career. Good on him."
Kyrgios was also dismissive of the booing, saying: "Yes, obviously it's not the greatest thing to hear. 10-8 in the fifth, getting booed off, definitely not the best feeling."
Seppi was savouring a memorable victory. "Maybe it was meant to be. It was a tough match and I didn't start well. I could not get the rhythm but I started to play better," he said.
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