Bat smash, tirade and reckoning on social media. Nick Kyrgios freaks out after a point penalty.

Nick Kyrgios’ thick scandal file is one chapter richer. At the ATP tournament in Miami, the Australian once again completely lost his nerve.

Nick Kyrgios is by no means a child of sadness. The 26-year-old is considered a “bad boy” in the tennis scene. He got his reputation after various incidents – including Kyrgios throwing a chair onto the pitch – missed. The current world number 102 once explained his freak out with his fight against inner demons.

The experts rave about his potential, which also predestines him for the really big victories. The tennis pro, who competed with a wild card, also showed his skills in Miami. In the first lap he defeated the uncomfortable Adrian Mannarino, then he swept Andrey Rublev off the field and didn’t give Fabio Fognini a chance either.

In the round of 16 against Jannik Sinner, the starting phase is balanced when Kyrgios gets really upset. The reason: Chair umpire Carlos Bernardes’ radio is set too loud, so that in combination with the microphone it causes audible interference. “How is that possible? This is round four of Miami, one of the biggest tournaments, and you’re not doing your job. It’s embarrassing,” complains Kyrgios. “It’s a joke!”

Kyrgios blow the fuses

When the tiebreak has to decide the first set, Kyrgios still hasn’t calmed down. Kyrgios talks loudly to himself, which displeases the Brazilian referee. Bernardes punishes him with a point deduction, Sinner takes the lead 6:3. Kyrgios does not give up and continues to complain to Bernardes. With a double fault he gives away the first set.

The frustration is great. Kyrgios smashes his racket and accuses the referee that he has no idea. The result: during the change there is a game penalty for him at the beginning of the second set. Sinner no longer gives up the break given in the second round and moves into the quarter-finals. The 20-year-old South Tyrolean on the whole incident: “It was extreme.”

Frustration reduction in social media

After the game, the enfant terrible – who was penalized at the last tournament in Indian Wells, tangled with actor Ben Stiller and nearly hit a ball boy with his racquet throw – took to social media. On Instagram Story he wrote: “All I said to get a points deduction was that my friend could do the referee’s job. (…) Hundreds of thousands of dollars are at stake. GET NEW REFEREES!»

And on Twitter he adds: “Don’t let yourself be blinded. I have hell of respect for Jannik Sinner, he’s one of my favorite players and he was TOO GOOD. My criticism is aimed at the referee, who is simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH for such matches. Just a warning for him, right? What a joke.”

Kyrgios is by no means an isolated case with his recent freaks on the ATP tour. With Jenson Brooksby, Alexander Zverev or Daniil Medvedev, other professional colleagues also attracted negative attention, raising the question of whether tennis generally has a discipline problem.