Nick Kyrgios of Australia is no stranger to the moniker “The Bad Boy of Tennis.” Despite reaching the Wimbledon final in July, which was his best-ever performance at a major tournament, the 27-year-old has also been in the news off the court this year.
For his verbal abuse, audible profanity, and unsportsmanlike behavior at the Miami Open, the ATP fined him $35,000. Another illustration of why sports fans require villains is Kyrgios.
Kyrgios has dealt with this compelling storyline throughout his career. He operates in a unique way. “He plays without a coach, without giving the tour his full attention, and without exercising much restraint.”
A tennis fan who was briefly barred from Centre Court during the men’s Wimbledon final is suing him for calling her “drunk out of her mind.”
In connection with an incident involving his ex-girlfriend in Canberra in January 2021, Kyrgios is also charged with assault.
Why Is Nick Kyrgios Such a Contentious Figure?
Nick Kyrgios lost to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon finals on Sunday, eight years to the day after making his Wimbledon debut. Throughout the competition, Kyrgios generated controversy with his theatrics on the court and his disdain for the infamously rigorous Wimbledon dress code.
Due to his openness about his issues with mental health and racism, Kyrgios has gained the admiration of tennis fans. He has also gained the respect of his rivals in a game where the mental aspect is just as crucial as the physical.
Also: Fonda Controversy: Why Fonda Was Essentially Blacklisted in The Film Industry?
Physical evidence of his influence on the sport’s future is present. His iconic Yonex racket was “far weaker in sales to males than girls” than other major brands when he initially started using it. Nowadays, it’s typical to see kids of both sexes adopting the brand.
Numerous accounts of the tennis star’s generosity and commitment to his pals have surfaced, but these have been surpassed by what is captured on camera.
What Events and Controversies Have the Australians Been a Part Of?
Quarterfinal Appearance at Wimbledon in 2014 as A Teenager
Nick Kyrgios, at 19 years old, made it all the way to the quarterfinals in his debut appearance at Wimbledon in 2014—a performance that is still the second-best of his career.
At the time, Kyrgios was ranked 144th in the world. He entered the main event as a wildcard and defeated Frenchman Stephane Robert in the first round in four sets.
Also: Naomi Osaka Controversy: Naomi Osaka Has Decided to Take a Break and Pull out Of the French Open.
Tanking at Wimbledon 2015, Profanity, and Racquet Abuse
Kyrgios was overheard calling Diego Schwartzman “dirty trash” over the courtside microphones during their first-round match. Later, the Australian apologized but claimed that he was the target of the remarks.
A linesman denounced Kyrgios to the chair umpire during his subsequent encounter against Juan Monaco for using profanity.
Does it feel good to be up there in that chair? Kyrgios asked indignantly after demanding to know what the linesman had said. Does standing up in the chair feel strong?
His third-round match versus Raonic was marred by controversy when the Australian was issued a code of conduct warning for striking the court with such force that his racquet bounced into the bleachers and was recovered by a fan.
Abuse of His Own Support Personnel at Wimbledon in 2016
In his players’ box courtside during his third-round victory over Feliciano Lopez, Kyrgios was overheard shouting at his support staff and calling some of them “retarded.”
A few days later, Kyrgios apologized for using the term.
