For those who hope Nick Kyrgios will tone it down a little, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon.
The brash — and talented — Australian flung his racket onto the Wimbledon grass in disgust Friday and it bounced into the stands on Court 2.
But even more noteworthy, Kyrgios contravened the tournament’s strict predominantly all-white clothing rule by donning a headband that was mainly purple and green. He was told to turn the headband around, he said, and duly obliged.
Even if the accessory is sold at Wimbledon’s official shop — for about $9 — and Wimbledon’s logo doesn’t have much white on it at all, Kyrgios surely knew the rules regarding clothing beforehand.
If he is to be fined, we’ll know Saturday, Wimbledon’s press office said in an email.
But despite his atypical antics for a tennis player — Kyrgios routinely chats with the crowd, himself and chair umpires — there’s no doubt the 20-year-old can play, especially thriving at the bigger events.
He proved it again in dispatching the ailing seventh seed, Milos Raonic, 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in the third round to gain revenge for a loss to the Canadian in last year’s quarterfinals at the All England Club. Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Maria Sharapova all prevailed, too, and have yet to concede a set this tournament. But women’s world No. 1 Serena Williams needed to rally in the third set to see off Britain’s Heather Watson.
Many, too, feel Kyrgios’ personality is a welcomed change in the world of tennis.
Kyrgios — who landed in hot water in the first round when he used the phrase “dirty scum” after a heated discussion with umpire Mohamed Lahyani — has looked annoyed when dealing with questions from journalists, and Friday was no different.
Asked for his thoughts on Wimbledon’s dress code — he hasn’t been the only player quizzed on the subject this week — Kyrgios retorted: “I like it. What kind of question is that?”
“They told me to turn it around, so I turned it around,” Kyrgios, who hit 34 aces, said later.
Kyrgios also seemed to like some advice he was given by one particular fan wearing a Batman t-shirt in the stands.
He’s currently without a permanent coach, so why not?
“I thought he was key in the match,” said Kyrgios. “He was actually saying some really good things at crucial moments. I think he helped.”
Who knows if Kyrgios was joking, but Raonic clearly wasn’t aided by injuries. A foot problem that forced him to miss the French Open still isn’t perfect and compensating with other parts of his body led to ankle, hip and other issues.
Richard Gasquet, Kyrgios’ next opponent, isn’t one of those put off by the Canberra native.
“I think it’s great for the game,” said Gasquet, who defeated the slumping Grigor Dimitrov — like Raonic a semifinalist in 2014 — in straight sets. “He has a good personality. He’s fun to watch on the court. He’s nice off the court. That’s the most important. He respects the players off the court.
“He’s always talking in the locker room. I think he’s a nice guy.”
Gasquet and Kyrgios played last year at Wimbledon and the result shaped tennis history. Kyrgios saved nine match points against the Frenchman and one match later sent Rafael Nadal packing in the fourth round as a wildcard ranked 144th. Nadal lost Thursday to qualifier Dustin Brown.
“Of course last year, even if I lost, it was a match we never forget, me and him,” said Gasquet. “And for sure because it was his first match he won against a good player. I was top 10, and me, when you are losing with nine match points it’s very difficult.”
Djokovic suffered a devastating loss in the French Open final when he was once again one match away from completing his grand slam collection. Yet a hangover has yet to materialize. The world No. 1 and defending champion crushed Kyrgios’ fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic 6-3 6-3 6-3, striking 15 aces.
Wawrinka, Djokovic’s conqueror in the French Open final, eased past Fernando Verdasco 6-4 6-3 6-4, and Sharapova — seeking a first Wimbledon title since opening her grand slam account in London in 2004 — beat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4 6-3.
Williams, seeking the “Serena Slam” for a second time, survived against Watson 6-2 4-6 7-5 and next meets older sister Venus Williams.
Marathon man John Isner, meanwhile, was locked in a battle with U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic — 10-10 in the fifth set — when they were forced off due to bad light. Isner trailed by a break at 3-0 in the fifth and saved a match point serving at 4-5.