- Kyrgios was once again at the center of controversy
- The Australian crashed in a comeback full of swear words
Commentators were forced to repeatedly apologize for Nick Kyrgios' foul language during his straight-sets loss to Jacob Fearnley at the Australian Open on Monday night.
The controversial Australian returned to Melbourne Park after an 18-month singles hiatus due to crippling injuries.
The 29-year-old firebrand claimed a persistent abdominal strain affected his serve in the 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) loss to the Scot.
Kyrgios used profanity throughout the match that was picked up by courtside microphones.
“I can't serve… just like I told you,” Kyrgios was heard saying.
'Still serving, right? I'm here now. I'm here now, so I can more or less continue serving.'
Eurosport repeatedly apologized to viewers for Nick Kyrgios' foul language during his straight sets loss to Jacob Fearnley on Monday night.
Kyrgios unleashed a series of expletives during the Australian Open match
Eurosport, a network for which Kyrgios works as a commentator, apologized to viewers.
“You can see Nick Kyrgios is starting to unload again,” commentator Mikey Perera said.
'I'll keep apologizing, everyone. Kyrgios' bad words may keep coming. He's just letting off steam with his team.
Perera and Eurosport co-commentator Barry Cowan then asked why the chair umpire had not taken offense to the bad language.
Players usually receive a warning from the referee if foul language can be heard.
Questions had been raised about the Australian's fitness ahead of the Australian Open, and the 29-year-old, who has fought hard to recover from a career-threatening wrist injury, previously admitted it would be a “miracle” if could make it back for the first Slam of 2025.
But after being eliminated from the Slam at home, Kyrgios raised fears about his future playing career: “Realistically, I don't see myself playing singles again here.
'So… It was special. I have assimilated it. It was pretty good. I mean, yeah, I knew I had doubles and I was taking it all in tonight, in those moments.'
Eurosport commentator Mikey Perera (pictured) and co-commentator Barry Cowan asked why the chair umpire had not warned the Australian about his language.
Kyrgios admitted on Tuesday night that this could be the last time he would play singles at the Australian Open.
'It was crazy. But yeah, I didn't want to just throw in the towel or leave or retire.”
He added that he was “physically hurting” but was not going to disappoint the fans “who had waited hours” outside Melbourne Park to get onto the field today.
The Australian had shared snaps on his Instagram of the huge queues of fans waiting outside the tournament to enter the stadium, with some claiming they had been queuing for almost five hours.
But after a big sigh, the Australian, who had previously said tennis was “mundane” without him, repeated: “Once again, I don't see myself being realistic playing a singles match here again.”
But it won't be the end of his career. Kyrgios stated that he will continue playing doubles and, if his body is good, he will continue playing singles in the remaining Slams this year.
“I knew tonight was going to be tough,” he said.
'With my fitness, I knew I was going to be really hampered with my serve. But just seeing the fans lined up for four or five hours and the amount of people supporting me, it was hard to throw in the towel.
“It would have been very easy to turn around, but I tried to do the best I could with the state I was in physically.
'Obviously, it was heartbreaking. “I wanted to play well and the timing of the abdominal tension is not appropriate, but it is what it is.”