Brazilian Davis Cup player in hot water over racist gesture

The ITF is reportedly investigating Brazilian tennis player Guilherme Clezar for appearing to criticise a Japanese line judge with a racist gesture.

Clezar lost in straight sets to Yuichi Sugita overnight in the opening rubber of Brazil's Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against Japan in Osaka.

The 24-year-old Brazilian shocked viewers during an incident in the third-set tiebreak after a ball was called out.

The player reviewed the decision, with Hawkeye showing the call was incorrect.

Clezar looked at the umpire, brought both hands to his face and stretched his eyes in an apparent criticism of the Japanese line judge.

"The arbitration is reviewing the images of the match," the ITF said, as reported by Brazilian news service Estadao.

The Brazilian team and the ITF will reportedly meet later today.

Clezar, the world No.244, is the fifth-ranked Brazilian player and mostly competes on the Challenger tour.

He has appeared in just one grand slam main draw, losing in the first round of the 2016 US Open.

"Clezar is reputed to be rude," wrote Brazilian UOL journalist Alexandre Cossenza after the incident.

"Anyone who talks to players and referees will hear that the gesture is just another one. It is the kind of behaviour that 'passes' in smaller tournaments.

"Almost nobody sees and the repercussions are zero. Those who arrive at the ATP level soon find that they need to change. Clezar has not arrived yet."

Watch highlights from Nick Kyrgios's Davis Cup win overnight: