Temperamental Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has admitted to spitting at a fan who showed disrespect to him during his first-round Wimbledon win.
Kyrgios survived some tough moments, taken to the wire as he battled past British wild card Paul Jubb in a five-set thriller in the first round at the Wimbledon on Tuesday.
Playing on No.3 Court in little cloudy, the Australian required three hours and five minutes to claim a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-7, 7-5 victory over the world No.219 Jubb, who was chasing his first win at a Grand Slam.
After hitting the winning shot, Kyrgios spat at the direction of crowd at Court No 3 from where he was getting abusive comments.
When asked if the action was deliberate, Kyrgios said: “Of one of the people disrespecting me, yes. I would not be doing that to someone who was supporting me.”
He added: “A lot of disrespect was being thrown from the crowds. I’m just starting to think it’s normal when it’s really not. I didn’t say anything to the crowd until they started just every time I came down the far end. Someone yelled out I was s**t in the crowd. I don’t understand why it’s happening over and over.
“Because there’s a fence there—and I physically can’t do anything or say anything as I’ll get in trouble—they feel they’re able to say what they want.”
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