-Ikenna Okafor
Nick Kyrgios has been fined $10,000 for misconduct during his opening singles match at Wimbledon.
The 27 year-old Australian admitted to spitting in the direction of a “disrespectful” fan and called a line judge a “snitch” in an ill-tempered five-set win over Britain’s Paul Jubb on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, world number five Stefanos Tsitsipas sailed into the third round with a 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 win over Australia’s Jordan Thompson at Wimbledon yesterday, setting up a mouthwatering third-round match against Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios.
Early second-round action at the All England Club was overshadowed by the withdrawal of Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut — the third player to pull out with Covid.
Spanish 17th seed Bautista Agut became the third potential dangerman in Rafael Nadal’s half of the draw to pull out with coronavirus, following the withdrawals of 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini and 2017 finalist Marin Cilic.
Nadal has also benefited from a shock first-round exit for Canada’s sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Greek fourth seed Tsitsipas and the temperamental Kyrgios remain major threats to the 36-year-old Spaniard’s hopes for a third Wimbledon crown.
Kyrgios was on his best behaviour on court as he steamrollered Serbian 26th seed Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.
The 27-year-old, who made the quarter-finals on debut at the All England Club in 2014, did not face a single break point.
“I just wanted to remind everyone that I am pretty good,” he said. “I was nowhere near my best in the first round but today I was in my zone.” Kyrgios’s five-set opening win over Paul Jubb of Britain was marred by his admission that he spat in the direction of fans, accusing them of being disrespectful.
In his post-match news conference on Thursday, he was his usual combative self, taking aim at the media for their coverage of his opening encounter.
“There was just nothing the media possibly could tell me I did wrong today,” he said. “I just know that you can’t possibly ask me anything and stir anything up.”
Kyrgios gets $10,000 fine: Sets up Tsitsipas clash