Nick Kyrgios loses his temper with the referee during a doubles match at the Australian Open amid injury turmoil.

Nick Kyrgios, known as much for his flamboyant character as for his talents on the court, made headlines again during the Australian Open. This time, it was a heated exchange with the chair umpire that caught the attention, occurring during his doubles match with Thanasi Kokkinakis. Although both battled injuries, they managed to entertain the crowd, but a refereeing decision sparked a typical Kyrgios fire.

The difficult return of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis

The 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles champions have sparked questions about their participation this year, due to their respective injuries. Kyrgios, returning from wrist surgery, also suffered a torn abdominal muscle in his first-round individual draw match against Jacob Fearnley. For his part, Kokkinakis suffered a grueling five-set loss to Jack Draper, made worse by a lingering shoulder problem.

Despite these physical challenges, the duo chose to take to the field for the enjoyment of their fans. However, this commitment to entertaining came at a price.

The controversial code violation

Early in the first set, Kokkinakis, frustrated after a missed shot, hit the ball against the net and then again on the rebound. Although his actions were not malicious, the referee penalized a code violation, following the letter of the law. This decision infuriated Kyrgios, who felt that the official lacked sensitivity, given that Kokkinakis had chosen to play despite his injuries.

In a heated exchange, Kyrgios lashed out at the referee:
” Seriously ? Really ? Are you going to do this? Him trying to play in front of the fans, doesn’t that mean anything? Are you going to give him a code violation for that? »

He defended his partner by highlighting the cost of their injuries and questioning the need for this penalty:
“We’re both hurt, aren’t we?” A stadium full of people is there to see us play and they don’t even need to be there, right? And he hits a ball because of pain and you give him a code violation. »
“Don’t you think it’s anti-specific?” Just read the game a little better. No need to do that. »

A bitter end for the duo appreciated by fans

Despite their determination, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis had to retire while trailing 5-7, 2-3 against compatriots Aleksandar Vukic and James Duckworth. The crowd, recognizing the duo’s effort in performing despite their difficult conditions, gave them a warm ovation.

Kyrgios’ on-court frustrations were compounded by his uncertain future in tennis. Following his loss to Fearnley, the 29-year-old hinted at a possible retirement, leaving fans wondering about the future of the controversial star.

What are the next steps for Kyrgios and Kokkinakis?

With significant injuries to deal with, the duo are expected to take the necessary time to recover. Kyrgios, whose career is marked by flashes of genius and moments of controversy, remains a mystery, leaving the tennis world wondering whether this Australian Open could well be a turning point in his journey.