‘Nick Kyrgios has brought tennis to the lowest level with his cheating, manipulation, abuse,’ says Pat Cash

Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios shouting

Pat Cash has lashed out at Nick Kyrgios over his behaviour during his win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon, saying “something’s got to be done about it – it’s just an absolute circus”.

Kyrgios and Tsitsipas were involved in a heated third-round encounter on NO.1 Court on Saturday evening with tempers often boiling over.

The Australian constantly shouted and swore at officials, hassled the chair umpire and complained about the line judges while Tsitsipas hit a ball recklessly into the crowd and into the backboard after a Kyrgios underarm serve.

Both players were fined while the Greek accused Kyrgios of being a bully during his post-match press conference, but his opponent insisted he didn’t do much wrong.

Comment – Kyrgios vs Tsitsipas was X-rated drama that took tennis to a new audience

1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash was unimpressed with his compatriot’s antics.

“It was absolute mayhem,” he told BBC radio. He’s brought tennis to the lowest level I can see as far as gamesmanship, cheating, manipulation, abuse, aggressive behaviour to umpires, to linesmen.

“He was lucky to even get through the first set, he should have been defaulted in the first set.

“Something’s got to be done about it – it’s just an absolute circus. Is it entertaining? Yeah, possibly. It’s gone to the absolute limit now.”

When asked to expand about the cheating, Cash added: “The gamesmanship. The abuse he was giving.

“Tsitsipas would make a line call and he’d go up there and start complaining, he’d be in his face – that’s part of gamesmanship, that’s the sort of stuff he does and I think there’s a limit.

“I have no problems with a bit of gamesmanship but, when it gets to that level, I think it’s just out of control.

“As it was, the umpire lost control. The ball kids were running across the court as Kyrgios was serving, he didn’t slow down for any of that stuff.

“Tsitsipas got sucked right into it – so it was entertaining and fascinating, but for me it’s gone too far now.”

Nick Kyrgios Pat Cash Stefanos Tsitsipas

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