By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday March 29, 2022
Nick Kyrgios took a lot of heat for his behavior on court during his 7-6(3), 6-3 loss to Jannik Sinner on Tuesday in Miami, but the Aussie thinks that umpire Carlos Bernardes should be taking more heat than him.
Kyrgios, who was given a point penalty then a game penalty, which turned the tide in Sinner’s favor in the match, called Bernardes’ decision-making “ridiculous.”
“I just don't think he controls the crowd well at all, in my personal opinion. People can have their opinions on it,” he said. “I just don't think my point penalty was worth a point penalty.
“Literally, all I said to my team was I thought that Matthew Reid, an ex-tennis player, could do just as good a job in the umpire's chair. If that's worth a point penalty at 5-3 in the first-set tiebreak in the fourth round of Miami at a Masters event for hundreds of thousands of dollars, then that's for you to decide. But I think it's ridiculous, in my opinion.”
It should be noted that Kyrgios was his worst enemy when he responded the point penalty by flying off the handle and smashing his racquet after the first set. He was promptly handed a game penalty on his serve, which effectively gave Sinner the victory.
The Aussie may have had a legitimate beef with Bernardes on the original call, but what happened next is on him.
Naomi Osaka made some observant comments about the Aussie earlier in the week, when asked about his on-court decisions in such matters.
"I always felt like his behavior was kind of like -- I'm not trying to be offensive; I hope he doesn't read this and take it this way -- like someone that can't really handle the pressure too well, so they are kind of overwhelmed," she said. "For me, I relate to that feeling a lot, but I think we channel it in different ways."
It's a fine line that Kyrgios walks. He enjoys living on the edge, pushing boundaries and being different. Sometimes that lands him in difficult situations.
Kyrgios - Where is the Balance?
Kyrgios says he’s disappointed by the negativity surrounding him. He says he has played great tennis on the singles court at Indian Wells and Miami, but feels that the public is only focusing on his transgressions.
“It's not that I don't care. I just don't think it's fair,” he said, when asked if he feared more fines for his latest outburst. “Like I just hate to bring up the same things over and over again. But Shapovalov nailed a ball in someone's eyeball and got 5 grand. I can throw a racquet at Indian Wells, didn't even hit anyone, and I'm getting 25 grand.
“Where is like the balance? Like how much do I bring for the sport? Like that's the problem with tennis. We just don't protect our stars at all. We love to outcast them and full of bad media. ATP never defends their players, never stands up for them.
“I mean, I'm used to it. Been used to it my whole year. To be honest, it sucks. I know I could put in a great week, great performance. I played seven, six singles matches that the crowd has been pretty much packed for. Tennis is sparking, I think. And, you know, I have one incident where I throw a racquet -- and I know it can be dangerous. I know it can potentially be not good. Doesn't hit anyone. 25 grand.”