Nick Kyrgios insults referee

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Already smashed his racket in the quarter-final defeat in Indian Wells: Australian Nick Kyrgios

Photo: RAY ACEVEDO/EPA

The Australian tennis pro Nick Kyrgios, number 102 in the world rankings, lost control of himself at the Masters in Miami - and later also his round of 16 match against the South Tyrolean Jannik Sinner.

The reason for Kyrgios' freak out: the microphone of the chair umpire Carlos Bernardes, which Kyrgios apparently seemed too loud and therefore too disturbing.

The Australian therefore fought a battle of words with the referee.

“We're playing one of the biggest tournaments here – and you can't even do your job.

Embarrassing!' said Kyrgios.

The verbal argument so upset the 26-year-old that he initially received a point penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior and then ended the tie-break with a double fault (3:7), which gave Sinner the lead.

When changing sides, the Australian finally lost his composure.

After further discussion with the referee, he smashed his racket, then sneered at the referee and received a match penalty.

Sinner watched the skirmish motionless, finally won the game 7: 6 (7: 3), 6: 3 and is in the quarterfinals.

It's not the tennis pro's first gaffe.

During his quarter-final defeat in Indian Wells against Rafael Nadal in mid-March, he had maltreated his racket and insulted hecklers.

Kyrgios likes to involve spectators in his performances, which often distracts him from the flow of the game.

Despite recurring antics, hothead Kyrgios is popular with fans.

You could see that not only with the double win at the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, but also now in Miami: After the end of the game, a spectator ran onto the court for a selfie with him. The Australian had previously given his broken racket to a supporter.

maf/dpa