Nick Kyrgios sent death threats and vile abuse by online trolls

Nick Kyrgios has revealed the shocking abuse and death threats he and his family have been subjected to in the wake of his Houston semi-final defeat.

Nick Kyrgios in Houston

Nick Kyrgios has revealed he and his family have been subjected to vile trolling and death threats in the wake of his Houston semi-final defeat.

The Australian star, who is at risk of being suspended from the ATP tour following another vulgar on-court meltdown, took to Instagram to share screen shots of the messages he has been on the receiving end of.

“Nice threat my g,”: Kyrgios posted on top of a private message which read “you are f*****g dead, watch your back.

The 26-year-old also posted messages in which followers made threats against his mum and called for him to quit the sport.

Nick Kyrgios Instagram screen grab

Nick Kyrgios Instagram screen grab

The abusive message came just hours after Kyrgios lost his Houston semi-final against Reilly Opelka, a match which was overshadowed once again by Kyrgios’s behaviour.

Weeks after copping almost $60,000 in fines for audible obscenities and racquet abuse in both California and Miami, the Australian is once again facing sanctions for how he interacted with an official.

At 3-6, 5-5 30-15 down, Kyrgios let loose after a call went against him.

“What do you mean you don’t know from there?” he yelled at the umpire. “Where are you supposed to sit. The ball was out bro. If I’m hitting it what are you supposed to be doing? What are you guys doing out here. The ball’s out.”

The response from the chair umpire only served to exacerbate his fury

“If I’m not 100% Nick I can’t call it out from here and I can’t check the mark. If it is out, then I missed it,” ”he umpire said. “I made a mistake.”

Kyrgios – who could have opted to stop play to check the mark – continued to the next point, which he lost.

“Yeah f*** this man, it’s f****** out,” he yelled. “It’s out, how are you not calling this it’s an absolute joke. How are you missing this? We can’t do anything on clay it’s up to you to make that call.

“Do you think it was a costly mistake? How about you come out to the media and say ‘I did a terrible job’. The whole media thinks it’s my fault.”

Nick Kyrgios was not pleased with the umpire in his semi-final match. Picture: Supplied

KYRGIOS MUST BE BANNED FOR LATEST VULGAR TANTRUM

Nick Kyrgios should be suspended from the ATP tour after another vulgar on court outburst.

The Australian is one of a number of players in recent weeks to draw criticism for poor behavior and bad sportsmanship with umpires on the receiving ends of multiple foul mouthed tirades.

The ATP warned this week that harsher sanctions would be imposed on players abusing umpires after their weak response in Miami and Indian Wells drew worldwide criticism.

Four recent offences – including audible obscenities and racquet abuse - and $60,000 in fines does not appear to have made any kind of impact on Kyrgios whose latest outburst came in his Houston semi-final against Reilly Opelka.

At 3-6, 5-5 30-15 down, Kyrgios let loose after a call went against him.

“What do you mean you don’t know from there?” he yelled at the umpire. “Where are you supposed to sit. The ball was out bro. If I’m hitting it what are you supposed to be doing? What are you guys doing out here. The ball’s out.”

❌😡 @NickKyrgios crashed out of his #ATPHouston semi-final against @ReillyOpelka today, and this line-call drama only exacerbated his frustrations as he threw things away in the second set. Full highlights here 📺 https://t.co/ykZcGEAHmxpic.twitter.com/HxZRdaYAA6

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_AUS) April 9, 2022

The response from the chair umpire only served to exacerbate his fury

“If I’m not 100% Nick I can’t call it out from here and I can’t check the mark. If it is out, then I missed it,” ”he umpire said. “I made a mistake.”

Kyrgios – who could have opted to stop play to check the mark – continued to the next point, which he lost.

“Yeah f*** this man, it’s f****** out,” he yelled. “It’s out, how are you not calling this it’s an absolute joke. How are you missing this? We can’t do anything on clay it’s up to you to make that call.

“Do you think it was a costly mistake? How about you come out to the media and say ‘I did a terrible job’. The whole media thinks it’s my fault.”

Haha again… falls all on me. Umpires seem to make these mistakes a little too often. A lot of players seemed dissatisfied with the performance of them this week in Houston. More punishment? Potentially new umpires? Semi final, ‘I missed it nick’ on clay 5-5 in the second set 😂 https://t.co/twdrC5Npwv

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) April 9, 2022

Nick Kyrgios needs to be kicked off the tour

It remains to be seen what sanction Kyrgios faces for this latest performance but patience will be wearing thin.

Not just on the Australian but on the ATP which consistently fails to take any appropriate action against players.

Kyrgios is not the only athlete that should be facing a suspension.

Last month Alexander Zverev escaped with a pitiful fine and suspended ban after attacking an umpire’s chair and coming inches from causing physical harm.

The vulgarity on display by some male players in tennis is getting out of control. Suspensions appear the only logical next step.

What good is fining someone a five figure sum when they’re taking home millions each year?

It’s not a deterrent.

Nick Kyrgios of Australia smashes his racket

Tennis is already a global laughing stock when it comes to discipline, they need to make a big decision.

Despite the fines, Kyrgios even admits the ATP’s balance is all wrong but seems to think the fact he puts bums on seats should earn him a free pass.

“(Denis) Shapovalov nailed a ball in someone’s eyeball and got $5,000. I threw a racket, didn’t even hit anyone, and got $25,000,” Kyrgios said.

“Where is balance? How much do I bring the sport? That’s the problem with tennis. We don’t protect our stars. We love to outcast them.

“ATP never defends its players, stands up for them. I’ve been used to it my whole career. It sucks.”

Number 1 seeded player Michael Kouame from France 🇫🇷 slaps Raphael Nii Ankrah 🇬🇭 after losing in the ongoing TGF ITF jnrs world tour at the Accra sports stadium pic.twitter.com/pj4WjfifXZ

— KENNETH KWESI GIBSON 🎾 (@Kwesi_Gibson) April 4, 2022

Poor behaviour has even trickled down to the junior events in recent weeks with footage emergins this week of a French teen slapping his opponent in the face after losing a match.

Michael Kouame lost to Raphael Nii Ankrah 2-6 7-6 6-7 in the first round of an ITF juniors tournament in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

As the players went to shake hands at the end of three-set contest, Kouame slapped Ankrah across the face with his left hand.

It was followed by an oncourt punch up between the teams.

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios sent death threats and vile abuse by online trolls