Nick Kyrgios was once again seen complaining to the umpire but this time about something nobody expected.
During his four set victory over France’s Benjamin Bonzi on Louis Armstrong Stadium at the US Open, the Australian, 27, claimed he could smell the smoke of marijuana coming from the crowd. “It was f***ing marijuana,” he was heard saying. “It was smoke. Obviously I'm not going to complain about food. When athletes are running side to side and they have asthma, it's probably not ideal.”
Post match the world number 25 revealed he suffers from asthma and warned the potent scent of marijuana could harm players. "People don't know I'm a heavy asthmatic," said Kyrgios after the match.
"When I'm running side to side, I'm struggling to breathe, [it's] probably not something I want to be breathing in between points." As play resumed, the umpire asked spectators to "refrain from smoking around the court". The Aussie overcame a slight wobble to defeat Bonzi 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the third round but not before he hurled abuse at his team and spat on the court.
During the third set, he swore at his support team in his box several times, shaking his head and gesticulating wildly as he urged them to be vocal with their support. Unsurprisingly it earned him a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. “Good job, 4-3 in the third, you’re just chilling, doing nothing ... I'm two metres away from you,” Kyrgios yelled toward his box as Bonzi began to get on top.
The Wimbledon finalist's actions were lamented by many, including tennis legend Todd Woodbridge who thinks his compatriot's team should leave the court the next time they're subject to another of his verbal tirades. “At some point the people who are sitting in his players box need to take some action, “Woodbridge said on the Channel 9 broadcast.
“That action should probably be standing up and walking out. They've got nothing to do with what goes on on the court. That is up to Nick. Why does he (Kyrgios) want his player's box to tell him what to do when he's coach-less? I mean, goodness me.
“The amount of energy he expends unnecessarily, it wears him out. He is so much better when he doesn't do that ... he's angry with himself.”
Kyrgios will play American J.J. Wolf in round three, who upset 16th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in round one. "I'm just happy to get through," said Kyrgios.
"It's been a stressful time,” he added. “Me and my team have big expectations. Every tournament I play I'm expected to play amazing tennis every time. I'd rather have that pressure and expectation to go far. I feel like I'm playing some of the best tennis of my life."
