Nick Kyrgios was visibly upset with the umpire during his doubles match at the Australian Open after his partner, Thanasi Kokkinakis, received a code violation for hitting the ball into the stands out of frustration. The incident occurred during the first set against James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic.
Kokkinakis, struggling with injury, hit the ball into the net and then aggressively hit it again on the rebound, leading to the code violation. Kyrgios immediately confronted the umpire, questioning the decision and defending his partner. “Bro, really? Really? You’re really going to do that?” Kyrgios exclaimed. He continued to argue that Kokkinakis was playing injured and that the violation was unfair given the circumstances.
Kyrgios also expressed concern about potential financial penalties for the violation, stating, “Lose money, for what?”. Despite his protests, the match continued for a few more games before Kyrgios and Kokkinakis were forced to retire due to injuries, with Duckworth and Vukic leading 7-5, 3-2.
The incident highlighted Kyrgios’ fiery temperament and his willingness to stand up for his partner, even in the face of adversity. It also underscored the physical toll that the tournament was taking on both players, raising questions about their future participation in the event.