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Sport Tennis

Australian Open warm-up: Kyrgios smashes racket at Murray River Open

Australian struggled with a troublesome knee before losing to Borna Coric



A frustrated Nick Kyrgios smashes his racket after losing a point against Croatia's Borna Coric during their Murray River Open match in Melbourne today. The Australian lost the warm-up match ahead of Australian Open.
Image Credit: AFP

Melbourne: Nick Kyrgios was warned for bad language and docked a point for unsportsmanlike conduct after the Australian threw his racquet into the stands during Friday’s 6-3 6-4 defeat by Borna Coric in the Murray River Open at Melbourne Park.

Kyrgios’ problems began early on Friday as he struggled with a left knee issue and needed treatment midway through the match at the Australian Open warm-up event.

“I can’t serve without pain. When I land it feels unstable,” local media quoted Kyrgios as telling a trainer between sets.

“I’ll probably just play one more game. I’m serving at like 170(kph) instead of 220.” The 25-year-old, playing his first tournament in nearly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, soldiered on and was warned by the chair umpire for swearing at 4-4 in the second set. After his serve was broken, he smashed his racquet and threw it into the empty stands.

On Wednesday, Kyrgios had needed assurances from a tournament supervisor that he would not be fined by the ATP for his behaviour in the last round against Harry Bourchier before agreeing to play on.

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In other round of 16 matches on Friday, Frenchman Jeremy Chardy upset sixth-seed Taylor Fritz 6-2 6-4 while Briton Dan Evans won the opening set of his match with Marcos Giron before rain stopped play.

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