DailyExpertNews
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Tennis star Nick Kyrgios was involved in a fiery exchange with the referee during his comeback win against Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wednesday’s TP 500 Halle Open.
Kyrgios, 27, had his racket smashed after losing the opening set and was later given the horns by the umpire after being charged a time violation for sitting too long between points.
The Australian continued his rant from his seat, arguing that he should wipe his hands before playing.
“He said I played too slow, statistically I’m one of the fastest,” Kyrgios told reporters after reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament in Germany.
“I had to walk to the sidelines to get my towel, there is such a thing as sweat in the 30 degree heat that gets on your hands. I had to wipe my hands and he gave me a warning.”
Despite the heated exchange, Kyrgios regained his composure to win the next two sets and claim a 5-7 6-2 6-4 victory over his Greek opponent.
He delighted the crowd with some beautiful shots during the match, a reminder of what makes him such a dangerous player on grass.
“The support I’m getting from crowds around the world has been amazing. They want me to go out and put on a show,” he added.
“I’m happy that I can still reach this level with the tournaments I play. It’s a testament to how hard I work when I’m not playing.”
Kyrgios, whose outbursts on the pitch often make him divisive among tennis fans, has not been seeded in the tournament but will now face Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the next round on Thursday.
