Nick Kyrgios reveals eight-word sledge that sparked Miami Open drama
Nick Kyrgios has taken to social media in the aftermath of his Miami Open meltdown, revealing the eight words that he claims sparked the ugly scenes.
Kyrgios was hit with a point penalty and then a game penalty after a controversial first-set tiebreaker against Jannik Sinner on Tuesday.
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The Aussie was docked a point after being hit with a second code violation for something he said to a member of his entourage late in the breaker.
He then double-faulted to concede the set before taking aim at chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during the changeover.
"I didn't even say anything to you," he screamed.
"What is unsportsmanlike about it? What is unsportsmanlike?"
Bernardes replied by claiming that Kyrgios had said something about him to the person in the crowd.
And Kyrgios has now revealed exactly what he claims he said.
Taking to Twitter, the World No.102 claimed he said: "You could do the job of the umpire".
"What was said to my best friend that got me ‘unsportsmanlike code violation’ at 5-3 in the first set tie break," he wrote.
"With 100 of thousands of dollars on the line that was the decision he made because the umpires ‘feelings got hurt. GET NEW PEOPLE."
‘You could do the job of the umpire’ - what was said to my best friend that got me ‘unsportsmanlike code violation’ at 5-3 in the first set tie break. With 100 of thousands of dollars on the line that was the decision he made because the umpires ‘feelings got hurt. GET NEW PEOPLE
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) March 29, 2022
Kyrgios was subsequently hit with a game penalty and started the second set down 0-1 after obliterating his racquet at the side of the court.
Nick Kyrgios takes aim at umpire in press conference
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Kyrgios insisted Bernardes should bear some blame for what transpired.
"When everyone in that crowd is booing an umpire, and he's becoming the centre of attention, that's not his job," Kyrgios said.
"Because no one in that entire stadium bought a ticket to see him talk or play or do what he does."
Kyrgios moaned from the start of the match about the state of the court, the "worst" US crowd and Brazilian umpire Bernardes being unable to control proceedings.
"He's not even going to get a slap on the wrist for his dreadful umpiring performance today," Kyrgios said.
"He was horrendous."
It was the second tournament in a row in the US in which the 26-year-old has exited in ugly scenes.
He was fined $AU33,000 when his racquet almost hit a ball boy after he smashed it into the court while yelling an obscenity following his Indian Wells loss to Rafael Nadal.
Being outplayed in the tiebreaker, Kyrgios turned his attack to Bernardes, telling him: "You have absolutely no idea how to control this crowd, pretty sad..."
The Aussie eventually went down 7-6(3) 6-3 as Sinner advanced to the quarter-finals.
"I got frustrated," Kyrgios said after the match. "Can I not get frustrated?"
It marked a disappointing day for the Aussies in Miami, with Thanasi Kokkinakis also exiting the singles draw.
Kokkinakis went down 6-4 6-4 to second-seeded Alexander Zverev while suffering what appeared to be an injury to his right shoulder.
Despite their singles campaigns ending, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis teamed up later in the day to steamroll their way into the doubles semi-finals by dispatching third-seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-5 6-2.
The Special K's are now 9-1 in 2022 on the back of their remarkable triumph at the Australian Open.
with AAP
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