Nick Kyrgios gives up in shameful Shanghai Masters exit to Germany’s Mischa Zverev before taunting paying fans
Aussie star has a badboy past and did nothing to enhance reputation as he patted serves over the net and swore at fans
NICK KYRGIOS has disgracefully threw away a match at the Shanghai Masters before taunting fans: 'I didn't ask you to come watch - I don't owe you anything.'
The Aussie tennis star has as much talent as anyone in the game but displayed nothing apart from outrageous behaviour, merely patting serves over the net and arguing with fans in pathetic 6-3 6-1 defeat to Germany's Mischa Zverev.
Kyrgios, 21, beat Belgium's David Goffin in the Japan Open final just three days ago.
But his petulance on Wednesday saw him branded unprofessional by match umpire Alli Nilli as he crashed out in just 48 minutes to the world no.110.
Kyrgios - seeded 12 for the event and ranked 14 in the world - started walking off court for a changeover before a Zverev serve had even landed at one stage.
And a heated argument ensued with jeering fans before he received a code violation for an f-word rant at a spectator.
After he bunted a serve over the net at break point down in the fifth game, he strolled straight to his to his chair before Zverev had even returned it.
Nilli then warned him: "You can't play like that, OK? That's not professional.
"This is a professional tournament, we have to act professional and play with your best effort the whole time."
His erratic behaviour continued as he looked like he could not get off court quick enough by trying to smack winners and hit drop shots to get points over as speedily as possible.
He then asked Nilli to call the game off "so I can finish this match and go home".
One spectator told him to "respect the game, respect the people".
Kyrgios then replied: "Go home then. I didn't ask you to come."
Before Zverev clinched victory Kyrgios inviting a male fan onto the court after a long row, with the Aussie then serving up a winner on match point to boos from the Shanghai crowd.
He later offered no apology for his behaviour in a post-match press conference.
He said: "I don't owe them anything. It's my choice. If you don't like it, I didn't ask you to come watch. Just leave.
"I feel like if they knew what they were talking about they'd be on the tennis court and being successful as well.
"I can't really understand it at all. They don't know what I'm going through, so no, I don't understand it.
"If you're so good at giving advice and so good at tennis, why aren't you as good as me? Why aren't you on the tour?
"You want to buy a ticket? Come watch me. You know I'm unpredictable. It's your choice. I don't owe you anything. Doesn't affect how I sleep at night."
"It was just tough. Obviously I played a lot of matches in a row. Physically tired, mentally tired.
"That's why I'm trying to work on being able to be consistent every week. Just took the easy way out tonight and obviously didn't show up at all.
"I wasn't so much frustrated. I just tapped out a little bit, I guess."
Then asked if he wanted to qualify for the elite Masters event at London's O2, he admitted: 'I couldn't care less, to be completely honest with you."
