Kyrgios hot under collar
NICK Kyrgios has hailed the resurgence in Australian men’s tennis after brushing off another “misunderstanding” with officials to join 20year-old countrymen Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin in the last 32 of the US Open men’s singles.
Kyrgios staged a prematch protest over a logo dispute before eventually toeing the line and notching a comfortable 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over French wildcard Antoine Hoang.
The walking controversy took to The Grandstand court with the words “Just Do You” emblazoned on the inside of his raised collar. But the tournament supervisor instructed Kyrgios to change after the warm-up. The hot-head was initially having none of it, demanding to see the rule book.
“I’m not going to play until you show me the rule,” he fumed. “I want to know the rule. I want to see the rule. I’ve seen shirts worse.”
Kyrgios was later told he could display the logo loud and proud in future matches at Flushing Meadows.
“I knew that the supervisor was wrong when I was out there — but I just folded my collar down,” said Kyrgios, knowing he is already facing two ATP investigations for his conduct during and after his previous two matches in Cincinnati and New York.
The firebrand said he was trying to keep his nose clean, but you wouldn’t know it after he claimed the ATP was “pretty corrupt” for fining him $175,000 for his outburst in Cincinnati a fortnight ago, then backtracked and accused the governing body of having “double standards” following his first-round win.
“New York has a fair few distractions, so I am trying to stay away from that,” he said. “I want to really try and strap in and do well this week. I am just trying to stay focused.”
Facing a potential suspension after the season’s final grand slam as the ATP investigates his pair of “major offences”, Kyrgios next plays Russian Andrey Rublev tomorrow for a place in the last 16.
He could meet Popyrin in the fourth round after the fast-rising 20-year-old had a 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 win over world No.47 Mikhail Kukushkin. Popyrin next plays Italian Matteo Berrettini, who beat Australian Jordan Thompson in four sets.
De Minaur booked a date with world No.7 and former finalist Kei Nishikori with his 6-3 7-5 6-3 win over seeded Chilean Christan Garin.