'Rigged': Nick Kyrgios' shock accusation in latest explosive meltdown

A furious Nick Kyrgios has crashed out of Queen's Club, demanding umpires be stood down for poor performances.

The controversial Canberran, who displayed his full-range of tweeners, underarm serves and risky top-spin volleys, lost his second-round clash to outstanding Canadian teen Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (7-4) 7-4 (7-3) 7-5.

A high quality match was punctuated by some dubious line calling from match officials and some incredible ranting from the world No.39.

Due to the poor weather in London this week, both players were forced to play their first-round encounters earlier in the day with Kyrgios overcoming stubborn Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baen.

That match was a bizarre affair which saw the Australian spend most of the match rowing with experienced chair umpire Fergus Murphy, sledging his opponent and muttering to himself whenever he conceded a point.

At one stage he even threatened to walk off court after accusing a line judge of rigging the match.

Kyrgios later rowed back on that claim, but unleashed on the standard of officiating on the ATP Tour.

"I just don't think, at this level of sport, that we should have line judges and umpires that aren't making the right decisions," Kyrgios said.

"And I know what happens. Nothing happens. They get a little slap on the wrist. I had a conversation with them in Miami after I got fined again for their mistake.

"You know, they don't get any warning or fine or anything for their mistakes. So what's the difference?"

Kyrgios was angered in the Auger-Aliassime match when a ball that appeared to be out wasn't called and he lost the point.

The incident happened shortly after he had conceded a point that won the game for the Canadian after umpire James Keothavong had initially ruled it long.

Kyrgios was then issued with a code violation by Keothavong for furiously smashing a ball out of the court, before rounding on a photographer who he took exception to for snapping him while he was blowing his nose at the changeover.

"I thought some of the calls were outrageous today," he said.

"It shouldn't have to come down to me and Felix giving each other points.

"He gave me a point at a pretty crucial time, and I gave him a point at a pretty crucial time.

"For me doing a code violation, why can't they get fined for having a terrible day in the chair?

"There's hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line. It's not a joke.

"They just think it's a joke because nothing happens to them after the match. They don't get any investigation or anything.

"I think it's ridiculous. Like, why not have another umpire ready to come in if that guy's have a terrible day?

"The calls are horrendous, but I get fined and he gets nothing. It's like a black star. I don't know what happens. It's rubbish."

‘Absolute disgrace’

Earlier in the day, Kyrgios accused officials of “rigging” his first-round match, launching an expletive-ridden rant at Murphy after missing a set point against Carballes Baena.

“Are you taking the p***?” Kyrgios said. “The ball was this far out.

“It couldn’t be further out, what are you doing? Was that not out second serve?”

After Murphy issued a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct, Kyrgios continued his tirade, saying “it's a joke, man. It's a serious joke” and adding: “Like, your hat looks ridiculous, also. It's not even sunny.”

After another point, Kyrgios said: “The ball was this far out on the second serve. I'm going. I'm not going to give 100% when I've got linesmen rigging the game, I don't want to play.

“You wonder why I don't try half the time. Literally the set had finished, he double-faulted. Why am I playing at 5-5? Absolute joke.”

Later in the match, Kyrgios berated himself for hitting a poor lob to gift Carballes Baena a point and made reference to a computer game.

“So lazy, do something, so lazy you are,” he said to himself. “You were playing FIFA until 3 a.m., what do you expect?”

He also sarcastically applauded the officials when they made correct calls and told them to “cover your lines.”

“Disgrace. Absolute disgrace,” he also said. “I’m locked in a tiebreak at 3-3 when the set was done 15 minutes ago.”

with agencies