WATCH the moment bad boy of tennis Nick Kyrgios denies he 'tanked' during Wimbledon fourth-round defeat by Richard Gasquet
- Nick Kyrgios was accused of 'tanking' during his defeat by Richard Gasquet on Monday
- The Australian bad boy appeared to stop trying in the second set, allowing serves to go past him
- Kyrgios had a heated exchange with our man Charles Sale and fellow reporters afterwards
- Asked for an explanation by Sportsmail, Kyrgios replied: 'Do you want to try to return Richard Gasquet's serve?'
- The 20-year-old was given a code violation for an 'audible obscenity' by umpire James Keothavong
- Kyrgios argued with Keothavong about changing his socks in the third set during a changeover
- Australian Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser was branded a 'blatant racist' by Kyrgios on Tuesday
- READ: Nick Kyrgios brands former Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser 'a blatant racist'
- Wimbledon 2015 day eight: Follow here as Djokovic, Anderson, Sharapova, Serena Williams and more feature
Nick Kyrgios denied 'tanking' on Monday as he faced tough questions from Sportsmail's Charles Sale and other reporters following his defeat by Richard Gasquet after appearing to stop trying during the second set.
The 20-year-old was a set and a break down when he was given a code violation for an 'audible obscenity', before the world No 29 bizarrely seemed to concede points on purpose by not swinging at Gasquet's serves.
It led to boos and jeers from the crowd on Court No 2 and the bad boy of tennis could be slapped with a fine of $250,000 (£160,000) under official grand slam rules which demand: 'A player shall use his best efforts to win a match when competing.'
WHAT WAS SAID Scroll down to read the full transcript of what Nick Kyrgios had to say on allegations of 'tanking' at Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios appeared to deliberately throw away points during his Wimbledon defeat by Richard Gasquet on Monday
Gasquet caused controversy on Court No 2 as the crowd booed and jeered the bad boy of tennis during his defeat by Gasquet
The Australian bad boy seemed to leave three of Gasquet's serves alone and appeared to be sulking on court
Kyrgios mutters to himself during his defeat by Gasquet but the 20-year-old faced tough questions from our man afterwards
The 20-year-old was playing in the second set when he appeared to deliberately leave Gasquet's serves alone (pictured at 15-0 and 30-0)
'Do you want to try returning Gasquet's serve?' Kyrgios asked Sportsmail's reporter during a heated press conference
Kyrgios was forced to deny the allegations that suggest he 'tanked' during his loss which knocked him out of Wimbledon
After the game in question had ended, Kyrgios sarcastically applauded British umpire James Keothavong as he walked past and also hugged a ball boy at the end of a point in the second set. He later argued with Keothavong over changing his socks during the third set.
Kyrgios, who split with his coach Todd Larkham the week before the Championships, was heavily criticised in the aftermath of his 7-5, 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (8-6) fourth-round loss to Gasquet, and could face retrospective punishment from the International Tennis Federation.
'Of course I tried,' Kyrgios said during his intense post-match press conference. 'There was a lot of ups and downs. It was a tough, tough time, especially when he's not missing any balls. I'm getting frustrated myself. I feel as if I'm playing not how I should be playing. I'm angry at myself.
'I don't think I was treated unfairly. If they decide to fine me they can fine me.'
Asked for a proper explanation by Sportsmail, Kyrgios replied: 'Do you want to try to return Richard Gasquet's serve? I'll give you a racket and we'll see how many times you can return his serve also.'
His defence was that Gasquet 'served too good', and an official moderator intervened as the Australian was grilled by our man. Asked whether he sees himself as the bad boy of tennis, he replied: 'Not at all, to be honest. Just because I show emotion on the court. I'm bad. So, whatever.'
At 15-0 to Gasquet, Kyrgios took a feeble swipe at the Frenchman's serve, and nonchalantly put his return into the net. He then allowed a delivery to pass him at 30-0 and relinquished the game by softly netting at 40-0 down.
Kyrgios repeatedly denied he deliberately gave away the third game of the second set, saying: '(It was) just frustration. It's tough out there.
'You know, I'm not perfect out there. I'm going to have ups and downs. That's the way you respond from that. I think it takes some serious balls to respond the way I did.
'I don't take much out of the tournament. I expected more out of myself. I feel like I've let people down. It's tough.'
Gasquet won the first set 7-5, and stormed through to take the second 6-1. Kyrgios then began to play the tennis he is capable of, only to throw away an opportunity to push it to a fifth set.
It was perfect revenge for Gasquet, who coughed up nine match points and a two-set lead before losing to Kyrgios in five sets in the second round last year.
During an extraordinary exchange with umpire Keothavong in the third set, Kyrgios told the official: 'I'm changing my socks. I've taken one pair off. I've got two on and I'm taking one pair off.'
After Keothavong replied to Kyrgios, he added: 'I'm staying on the court. If you're going to get angry with me for that, that's another level. Mate, Rafa [Nadal] and stuff play 30 seconds in between points every time and all I'm doing is putting my sock back on.'
Referring to his opponent Gasquet, Kyrgios said: 'I'm sure he'll understand. Do you wanna ask him?'
He then shouted from his chair to Gasquet on court: 'Richard, I'm just changing my socks.' As Gasquet raised no objections, Kyrgios added: 'Yeah he's fine. Unbelievable.'
Kyrgios vents his frustration as he sits back down during his controversial loss against Frenchman Gasquet
Kyrgios has been accused of 'tanking' during his clash at SW19 on Court No 2 with Gasquet by fans and pundits
The 20-year-old was a set and a break down when he was given a code violation for an 'audible obscenity' by umpire James Keothavong
Andy Murray, meanwhile, urged Kyrgios to continue being himself.
'The most important thing is to try to be yourself,' Murray said when asked about Kyrgios's behaviour. 'I don't think people always appreciate how difficult it is to grow up under the spotlight, how difficult it is to have loads of people expecting you to be perfect from a young age.
'I like Nick. I've spoken to him away from the court. He's quite different to how he is on it.' Murray added: 'It's not easy. He'll find his way, for sure.
'But he'll hopefully have good people around him that can help him, people that have experienced being on the tour. Guys like Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter and these guys will be able to help with that. It's important to listen to them, I would say.'
Australian Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser was branded a 'blatant racist' by Kyrgios on Tuesday morning after she said players should 'go back to where their parents came from' if they cannot play by the rules.
Kyrgios hugs a ball boy during his match against Gasquet before he was grilled during the post-match press conference
Kyrgios later argued with British umpire Keothavong over a change of socks during the third set
Kyrgios had a heated exchange with reporters who wanted a full explanation of why he appeared to give up on points
Kyrgios was heavily criticised in the aftermath of his 7-5, 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (8-6) fourth-round loss to Gasquet
Kyrgios has a Greek father and a Malaysian mother and, following his defeat by Gasquet, Fraser said: 'It's absolutely disgusting. I am so shocked to think that he went out there to play and he tanked, he did all that tanking, that's terrible.'
Fraser, 77, also discussed Bernard Tomic, an Australian who was born in Germany with a Croatian father and Bosnian mother. Tomic accused Tennis Australia of forgetting about him after his hip surgery last year as he will be missing from their Davis Cup tie against Kazakhstan later this month.
Fraser continued: 'They should be setting a better example for the younger generation of this country, a great country of ours. If they don't like it, go back to where their fathers or their parents came from. We don't need them here in this country if they act like that.'
Kyrgios linked to Fraser's interview on his Facebook page and responded: 'Throwing a racket, brat. Debating the rules, disrespectful. Frustrated when competing, spoilt. Showing emotion, arrogant. Blatant racist, Australian legend.'
Australian Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser (left) was branded a 'blatant racist' by Kyrgios on Tuesday morning after her comments
Kyrgios had a controversial campaign at Wimbledon as he got into trouble more than once at SW19 before being knocked out
Earlier in the week, Kyrgios had a run-in with Wimbledon officials after climbing a railing outside Court 14 to watch Lleyton Hewitt and Thanasi Kokkinakis in their doubles match against Finnish Henri Kontinen and Croatian Marin Draganja, which they won 6-7 (6-8), 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2, 8-6.
Wearing pink headphones, Kyrgios ignored the rule which bans anyone from peering over the walls so they do not distract the players on court.
Kyrgios was told by a Wimbledon official to get down because he was posing a 'health and safety risk'. He obliged, before reportedly climbing back up again after the official had walked away.
Australian tennis star Kyrgios was snapped by a fan at Wimbledon climbing onto a fence for a better view of the action
- Ronaldo models muscle-building pads in bizarre Japanese ad
- Did Messi refuse to accept Copa America best player award?
- Ronaldo exits interview after Sergio Ramos question
- Eden's little brother Kylian Hazard scores on Ujpest debut
- Alexis Sanchez scores Chile's winning penalty in Copa...
- Louis van Gaal wants to leave a legacy with young players
- Sportsmail's Wimbledon day eight verdict with Dickson and...
- How did he miss that? Radamel Falcao howler at Copa America
- Conor also calls out Floyd, claiming he'll dismantle him
- He's still got it! Will film's dad Alan Shearer striking a...
- What goes on in England changing room before winning bronze?
- Ex-Leicester manager Nigel Pearson asked if he's an ostrich
- Cristiano Ronaldo found my lost phone then took me and my...
- Wimbledon 2015 results: Serena Williams, Agnieszka...
- Horror on Tour de France: Devastating 26mph crash wipes out...
- Floyd Mayweather stripped of WBO belt... as Anthony Mundine...
- WATCH the moment bad boy of tennis Nick Kyrgios denies he...
- Arsenal stars Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Per...
- Raheem Sterling to tell Liverpool that he won't travel on...
- Manchester United close in on signing of Torino defender...
- Chelsea offer £11m a year to use Wembley for three years...
- David de Gea joins Manchester United team-mates Ander...
- Chelsea took away our Champions League dream, stole Willian...
- Transfer News LATEST: Ambitious plans for Zlatan...
Anyone else find him being the "bad boy of tennis" ...
by Scott Hazeltine 284