Kyrgios disqualified from Italian Open after swearing, throwing chair

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Nick Kyrgios of Australia was disqualified from the Italian Open on Thursday after throwing a chair across the court in a foul-mouthed tantrum before storming off during his match against Norwegian Casper Ruud.

The 24-year-old, always not far from controversy, had made headlines earlier in the day after criticizing rivals including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in an interview.

"Very eventful day to say to the least. Emotions got the better of me and I just wanted to say that the atmosphere was crazy out there today, just super unfortunate that it had to end in default," Kyrgios later wrote on Instagram.

"Sorry Roma, see you again, maybe."

His astonishing outburst came in his second round tie against 76th-ranked qualifier Ruud who had won the first set 6-3.

Nick Kyrgios (C) of Australia argues with umpire Gerry Armstrong during the Italian Open in Rome, Italy, May 16, 2019. /VCG Photo

Kyrgios won the second set 7-6 (7/5) to level but was furious after sending a forehand wide to hand a break back to Ruud early in the third set.

The 24-year-old turned and berated the crowd for walking during the point before slamming his racquet to the floor amid a string of swear words.

Kyrgios told a spectator: "You're not supposed to walk across the court as I'm serving, do you understand that?"

Kyrgios then received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct and a game penalty, with the umpire calling the tournament referee courtside.

"I'm giving 100 percent. I don't want to play when this shit is going on," Kyrgios was heard saying.

He then kicked a water bottle, before throwing a chair across the court, packing his bag, shouting "I am fucking done".

The Australian later posted "Hahahahaha" on Twitter along with crying with laughter emojis alongside a clip of Ruud celebrating going through 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 2-1 to the third round.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his win at the Italian Open round-of-16 match in Rome, Italy, May 16, 2019. /VCG Photo

Kyrgios had earlier whipped up a storm over comments made about Djokovic and Nadal in an interview with NCR Tennis Podcast.

"I just feel like he's got a sick obsession with wanting to be liked," he said of world number one Djokovic.

"He just wants to be (Roger) Federer. I feel he wants to be liked so much that I just can't stand him. This celebration thing is so cringeworthy."

"He's unbelievable, a champion of the sport, one of the greatest we will ever see. I think he will get the Grand Slam count and overtake Federer."

"No matter how many Grand Slams he wins, he will never be the greatest to me. I've played him twice and I'm sorry but if you cannot beat me, you cannot be the greatest of all time.

"For me, Federer will always be the greatest of all time. What Rafa has done has been pretty scary too. But Novak just riles me the wrong way. He always says what he thinks he needs to say rather than his actual opinion."

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Nick Kyrgios of Australia at Madrid Open in Madrid, Spain, May 11, 2017. /VCG Photo

He also said Nadal, who had lambasted the Australian as "disrespectful" after losing to him in Mexico earlier this year, was a bad loser.

"He's just my polar opposite like literally my polar opposite. And he's super salty," said Kyrgios.

"When he wins, it's fine. He won't say anything bad, he'll credit the opponent - 'he competed well today, he's a great player,' but then as soon as I beat him, it's just like 'he has no respect for me, my fans and no respect for the game' - and I'm just like 'what are you talking about?'"

Kyrgios has a long and chequered history when it comes to discipline.

In 2015, in one of his more notorious outbursts, he was fined for making a sexually disparaging remark in Canada about the girlfriend of three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka.

Source(s): AFP