Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been fined AU$11,000 for “spitting and audible obscenities” during his second-round victory over France’s Benjamin Bonzi in New York.
On Thursday morning AEST, the 27-year-old booked his spot in the US Open’s third round after toppling Bonzi 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-4 in a three-hour slugfest on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
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Kyrgios was given code violation warning for unsportsmanlike behaviour for swearing towards his player’s box and spitting on the court in their direction.
The incident occurred when his opponent secured a break of serve in the fourth set.
“Go home if you’re not going to f***ing support me bro,” he shouted towards his player’s box, which included girlfriend Costeen Hatzi.
And earlier during the second set, Kyrgios told the chair umpire he could smell marijuana coming from the crowd.
“It was f***ing marajiuana,” he yelled.
“It was smoke. Obviously I’m not going to complain about food.
“Obviously when athletes are running side to side and they have asthma, it’s probably not ideal.”
On Friday morning, the Wimbledon finalist was officially docked US$7500, the largest fine given to a player at this year’s US Open so far, for his explosive outbursts.
In his post-match press conference, Kyrgios claimed he was putting himself under “the most pressure” of his career, knowing that he is capable of competing for a grand slam title.
“I was really fortunate to get through in four sets … It was one of those matches where you just kind of survive,” he said.
“This year has been amazing in so many different ways.
“For my tennis, I wanted to almost reinvent myself and get back to the top of the game where I know I belong.
“The Wimbledon final was a turning point, I think, mentally for me. If I won that match I don’t know where my motivation would have been.
“Losing it, and being so close, it was really tough for me to kind of swallow that. Winning Washington, winning so many matches. I just feel like I thought the pressure would be off me after (almost) winning Wimbledon. Wow, like: ‘He’s a Wimbledon finalist. He’s nearly over the hump,’ type thing.
“But for me personally, I didn’t think I’d be putting this amount of pressure on myself. Every day I come in, I watch what I eat, I try and get sleep, every practice session I’m trying to have good intent.
“I almost don’t know who I am anymore, to be honest. Because that’s not me.”
Kyrgios and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis are currently playing their first doubles match of the tournament against France’s Hugo Gaston and France’s Lorenzo Musetti on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
