Nick Kyrgios almost takes out a ballkid after smashing racquet in rage

Nick Kyrgios is hoping to be reunited with the ballkid involved in a scary incident at Indian Wells, issuing an apology for hurling his racquet after losing to Rafael Nadal. WATCH THE VIDEO.

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: Nick Kyrgios of Australia returns a shot to Casper Ruud of Norway of during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2022 in Indian Wells, California. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Nick Kyrgios exploded in rage, smashed his racquet, was penalised a point to lose a set for swearing loudly, argued with the chair umpire, engaged with Hollywood actors, smashed 230kmh thunderbolt serves and 175kmh forehand winners and almost pulled off the biggest upset in world tennis in 2022.

Welcome to a day on the court with Australia’s biggest showman.

Kyrgios endured a gripping three-set thriller with Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal in the quarter finals at Indian Wells, eventually beaten 7-6 (7-0) 5-7 6-4 to end what had been a stunning tournament for the world No. 132.

Shortly after Kyrgios shook Nadal’s hand at the net, he slammed his racquet into the court with vision from the grandstand showing it bounce and almost hit one of the ballkids who quickly ducked out of the way just in time.

Nick Kyrgios almost takes out a ball kid after losing Indian Wells quarter-final to Rafael Nadal.

“Did I throw the racquet anywhere near him originally? It landed a metre from my foot and skidded and nearly hit him. I’m human,” Kyrgios said.

“Things happen like that. Obviously it was a very misfortunate bounce. I think if I did that a million times over it wouldn’t have gone that way.

“And what do you want me to say? It was three metres away from the kid. That’s a question you’re going to say after a three-hour battle against Nadal?

“He ducked. He ducked. Jesus.

“It didn’t hit him, it was an accident. It most definitely wasn’t like Zverev (who smashed his racquet into the umpire’s chair). It was complete accident. I didn’t hit him, thankfully. It wasn’t my intention so thankfully the ball kid’s okay.”

Afterwards, Kyrgios took to Instagram and said: “I just want to apologise to that ball kid at the end of the match. It was a complete accident and was frustrated at the end of the match.

“My racket took a crazy bounce and was never my intention.

“If anyone knows who that ballkid is, send me a message I will send a racket to him. Glad he is OK.”

Tweets later showed they had been put in touch with one another and that the ballkid accepted Kyrgios’s apology.

Made a new friend in the process 🤍 accidents happen but we can go out of our way to make things better 🥶👑 pic.twitter.com/G0gI5QpmBy

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) March 18, 2022

Nick Kyrgios almost takes out a ball kid after losing Indian Wells quarter-final to Rafael Nadal

That came really close! pic.twitter.com/8Bg4fJYLQG

— Billy Bang (@villievang) March 18, 2022

Along the way there were moments of sheer brilliance, underarm tweener serves and stunning forehand winners that showed the world just what a prodigiously talented tennis star Kyrgios is who can beat almost anyone on his day.

Along the way there were moments of sheer brilliance, underarm tweener serves and stunning forehand winners that showed the world just what a prodigiously talented tennis star Kyrgios is who can beat almost anyone on his day.

But where Kyrgios is still one step behind the greats of the sport is between the ears.

His emotions cost him dearly yet again and although he showed remarkable resilience to fight back into the contest after almost every meltdown, it’s the small lapses of concentration and emotive responses that currently separate Kyrgios from 21-times grand slam champions like Nadal.

“Nick is one of the most talented players on tour … when he’s playing with motivation and passion, he’s someone who can win against anyone,” Nadal said post-match.

“Being in the semi-finals, it’s great news for me.”

Really disturbing to see Kyrgios smash a racket in defeat (after the handshake) that rebounds and comes very close to hitting a ballboy. This stuff needs to stop, and he's not alone

— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) March 18, 2022

I'm here for a Ben Stiller-Nick Kyrgios movie, for what it's worth. #IndianWellspic.twitter.com/nycRz2PwVI

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) March 18, 2022

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor watch Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells.

Kyrgios scolds Ben Stiller: "Do I tell you how to act? No."

— Gill Gross 🇺🇦 (@Gill_Gross) March 18, 2022

Kyrgios: "Are you good at tennis?".
Heckler: "No."
Kyrgios: "Exactly so don't tell me how to play." *points at Ben Stiller in the crowd* "Do I tell him how to act?".
Vintage Nick.#Kyrgios#RafaelNadal#IndianWells

— George Nelson (@GeorgeNelson84) March 18, 2022

That came really close! pic.twitter.com/8Bg4fJYLQG

— Billy Bang (@villievang) March 18, 2022

Kyrgios had served for the first set at 5-4, but smashed his racquet when Nadal broke back and then down 6-0 in the tie-break he swore so loudly the umpire had no choice but to impose a point penalty handing the Spaniard the first set.

But the second set Kyrgios bounced back, hitting winners and pumping himself up with roars of “let’s go” as he stretched Nadal who has yet to lose any tennis match in 2022.

The third set was full of entertainment, with Kyrgios at one point disrupted by a crowd heckler seated in the vicinity of Hollywood actor Ben Stiller.

Kyrgios: “Are you good at tennis?”. Heckler: “No.” Kyrgios: “Exactly so don’t tell me how to play.” *points at Ben Stiller in the crowd* “Do I tell him how to act?”.

Kyrgios somehow saved two break points that game for a 3-2 lead, but wasn’t impressed telling the group to “shut the f**k up.”

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Nick Kyrgios reacts after a lost point to Rafael Nada. Picture: Frederic J. Brown/AFP

But the decisive moment came in the seventh game of the set when an unruly spectator screamed between serves for Kyrgios, who dropped serve and exploded with rage at the umpire.

“How long you going to let that shit go on for?” Kyrgios fumed at the umpire.

“How long bro? How long?

“If you did something about it before now it wouldn’t have happened.

“Look at the score, look at it.

“Over and over and over again they’re doing it.

“Unbelievable job controlling the crowd.”

Nadal then held his next two service games to love to secure his 19th straight win in 2022.

The most Nick Kyrgios way to end a set if I’ve ever seen one

— Luka Cekić (@FragMuffins) March 17, 2022

UPDATE: Rafael Nadal takes the first set of the Quarter-final 7-6(O) over Nick Kyrgios. #IndianWellspic.twitter.com/q9OVyvuvQ7

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 17, 2022

After a strong start to the match, Kyrgios tanks the end of the tiebreak, loses it 7-0.

Seems to have shaken it off to start the second, so far.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) March 17, 2022