'Turn if off': Nick Kyrgios rages at 'ridiculous' Aus Open drama
Nick Kyrgios was baffled during his match against Ugo Humbert at the Australian Open after claiming the net technology was malfunctioning after it pinged numerous serves.
Kyrgios was already frustrated in the first set when he claimed the net technology was malfunctioning after numerous serves were called a let.
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This prompted him to stop play and ask the chair umpire to reset the machine.
“Reset the machine because the ball is this high (hand motion with arms far apart) off the net,” he told chair umpire Marijana Veljovic.
After losing the first set he went on to break his racquet in anger.
But things took a turn in the third set when the technology pinged three serves in a row of Kyrgios for a let.
The Aussie was fuming and approached the chair umpire to argue the technology wasn’t working.
“Turn it off,” Kyrgios told her.
“Look at the score...it’s ruining the game.”
At one point, chair umpire Veljovic did check on the net technology between games.
The frustration clearly got to the Aussie who went on to drop the third set.
Fans on social media were also questioning whether the technology was malfunctioning and why Channel Nine were not showing replays.
"Turn the machine off"
Kyrgios has some issues with the let detector but seals the 2nd set 6-4 with a wild crowd.
That's exactly what we missed so much!! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/WOtoGZCfWm— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) February 10, 2021
Worth noting #Kyrgios isnt the only one to have an issue with the technology at the #AusOpen
Also watching chair umpire Marijana Veljovic just condescendingly nod as if she acknowledges there is an issue with the let cord and not address it is quite frustrating https://t.co/NbAaMv1bKF— Chris Talks sports and betting (@sport_n_betting) February 10, 2021
Nick Kyrgios when a let is called... #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/Cw9PlTJieS
— Tas Mavridis (@MavridisTas) February 10, 2021
Respect to that umpire for keeping her cool in the face of kyrgios... being kyrgios lol (she also checked to see if the let sensor was working properly when the set ended, that was good too)
— Sara Sisti 🇨🇦 (@12SaraaZ) February 10, 2021
“Turn it off”, says Nick Kyrgios of the machine that automatically calls let cords after several let calls from serves where the ball seemingly didn’t touch the net. Interesting debate about human umpires versus automation to be had #AusOpen
— Matthew Sullivan (@Matt_H_Sullivan) February 10, 2021
Kyrgios serves an ace, called a let. Complains the machine is broken. Serves ace in the same spot again. Called let again. Complains again. Serves wide, Humbert returns, and Kyrgios hits a volley while pretty much at the baseline which skims the line.
— Luka Cekić (@FragMuffins) February 10, 2021
Does Kyrgios have a point about the let calls? That seems like something the commentators could investigate. #AusOpen
— David Walsh (@davidliamwalsh) February 10, 2021
This is just ridiculous! #Kyrgios #AO #Let 😬
— Jackie Weaver Existential Question Time (@CabbageGrrl) February 10, 2021
Kyrgios has a point here. That let detecting machine is clearly malfunctioning. #AusOpen
— Michael Shillito (@tealfooty) February 10, 2021
Kyrgios explodes and breaks racquet
It wasn’t the only drama during the match.
A raucous crowd were willing Kyrgios on against 29th seed Humbert when Kyrgios was serving to stay in the first set at 6-5.
But Kyrgios made a few rash decisions and opted for a couple of drop shots, which were unsuccessful.
Umber breaks, wins set, Kyrgios loses set, breaks 😶#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lhubhzr5Kb
— 🧙♂️𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝕿𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖘𝖎𝖕𝖆𝖘𝖘 (@stedi78) February 10, 2021
This promoted the fiery Aussie to smash his racquet at the end of the set.
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