Wimbledon Day 2 results, news: Nick Kyrgios spit storm erupts as Piers Morgan slams Aussie

Nick Kyrgios has been slammed for a disgusting act on court in his first round that could earn him a $30k fine. But the Aussie was pointing the finger of blame elsewhere.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts

Controversial British journalist Piers Morgan has called Nick Kyrgios a “d**k” and a “nasty bully” after the tennis star’s first round behaviour at Wimbledon.

Kyrgios was seen spitting at fans he alleges abused him in a vile end to his first round match at the home of tennis.

Fans - both at the courts and watching on television - were left in a state of complete disbelief after the bad-tempered Australian committed one of the most vile acts ever seen on the hallowed turf of the All England club.

Spitting is vulgar enough at any time but with Covid rampant in Britain - and tennis players under orders to abide by strict health protocols to avoid catching or spreading the virus - Kyrgios’ actions are reprehensible.

The Australian also called a line judge a “snitch” that “has no fans”

Morgan was disgusted.

“UPDATE: Kyrgios has upgraded himself from massive d--k to nasty bully,” Morgan tweeted along with a video of the lineperson incident.

UPDATE: Kyrgios has upgraded himself from massive d*ck to nasty bully. https://t.co/axWiL58Y49

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 28, 2022

Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments including Every Finals Match. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Kyrgios spits in the direction of the fans who were giving him some gip #wimbledon22pic.twitter.com/bEDwjzXwcB

— Ric Riscardo (@Riscardo) June 28, 2022

Kyrgios will almost certainly incur the wrath of Wimbledon officials, who could fine him up to $30,000, but the court of public opinion has already made up its mind, slamming his foul behaviour.

Even his most loyal supporters who have tolerated and even embraced his boorish antics in the past will agree he has crossed the line this time.

Unrepentant, Kyrgios admitted he spat in the direction of a spectator after he beat British wildcard Paul Jubb 3-6 6-1 7-5 6-7 7-5 in a highly-charged opening round match on Tuesday.

But instead of apologising, he tried to defend his revolting action by launching into a tirade about the crowd’s behaviour.

Asked at a news conference to confirm who he spat at, Kyrgios replied: “One of the people disrespecting me, yes.

“I would not be doing that to someone who was supporting me.”

UK press reaction to Nick Kyrgios' Wimbledon outburst.

But it wasn’t just his drool that has made him public enemy No. 1 in Britain, because he also committed his own grand slam of gross acts, including:

- Abusing a line judge after claiming she “snitched on him” when she reported him to the umpire

- Being warned for smashing a ball out of the stadium grounds when he lost the first set against Jubb

- Telling an aged line judge they were too old to officiate

- Calling Australia a racist nation

At one point, he remonstrated with the chair umpire, demanding she kick out fans which he claimed were unfairly targeting him - a request that was denied.

“A lot of disrespect was being thrown today from the crowds. I’m just starting to think that it’s normal when it’s really not,” Kyrgios said.

Nick Kyrgios English back pages

Nick Kyrgios English back pages

“I didn’t say anything to the crowd until they started just every time I came down to the far end, people just going. It’s just I don’t know if it’s normal or not.

“Just pure disrespect, just anything. Someone just yelled out I was s**t in the crowd today. Is that normal? No. I just don’t understand why it’s happening over and over again.

“Have you ever gone to a supermarket and just started berating someone scanning the groceries? No. So why do they do it when I’m at Wimbledon? Why is that?”

NO REMORSE

Kyrgios continued the rant at his post-match press conference, arriving almost an hour late, dressed in black and munching a takeaway meal while taking questions from journalists.

Showing no remorse for his obnoxious conduct on the court, he continued to point the finger at everyone else except himself in a rambling attack on social media, young people, older people, umpires and even his own nation.

Social media: - “I just think it’s a whole generation of people on social media feeling like they have a right to comment on every single thing with negativity. It just carries on to real life.

“Because there’s a fence there, and I physically can’t do anything or say anything because I’ll get in trouble. They just feel the need that they’re just able to say anything they want.

The age of tennis officials: - “Most of the umpires are older, and I just don’t think that’s ideal when you’re playing a sport of such small margins. Factually, people that are younger have better eyesight. Do you not think that’s appropriate?

“When you’re playing a sport for hundreds and thousands of dollars, do you not think that we should have people that are really ready to call the ball in or out?”

Nick Kyrgios had plenty to say to the crowd and umpire during his first-round match at Wimbledon. Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Rowdy spectators: - “As a player who cops it very hard, I’m getting it nearly every match. I’m playing someone who is -- just because they’re sitting there and I can’t do anything, they just feel the need.

No sympathy for umpires he abuses: - “If I lose a tennis match and it comes down to a call, they’re not getting abused on social media. I have to deal with it. My girlfriend deals with hate messages. My family deals with hate messages. I deal with hate messages.

Racism in sport: - “I’ve grown up in Australia, so I definitely know what racism is. I feel like it’s a battle, constant battle, coming from that place and dealing with it.

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s got anything to do with that. I just think spectators in general think there’s just no line there anymore. They can just say something and they film it and then they laugh about it. It’s like that could actually hurt someone’s feelings.”

How athletes are treated differently to other professions: - “I’ve never, ever just gone to anyone else’s job and just blatantly spat, disrespected them. I don’t understand why people do that to athletes. Why do they feel the need that that’s acceptable?

“It’s happening more and more in sport. Spectators are just so disrespectful to the athletes. Have you ever gone into a supermarket and just started berating someone scanning the groceries? No. So why do they do it when I’m at Wimbledon?”

Nick Kyrgios English back pages

Despite all the promises that he is a different man, it took Kyrgios just 12 minutes before he threw his first tantrum - calling a line judge “a snitch” for intervening with the umpire on a ruling.

“Has one person today come to see her speak?” Kyrgios asked.

“No. I understand, but why is she doing that? Not one person in the stadium has come here to watch her do anything! Not one person.

“Like, you know what I mean? You got fans, but she has got none.

“What did I do? Like, come on. I know, but what? She just selfishly walks to you in the middle of a game because she’s a snitch!”

Kyrgios lost his cool and the first set after his serve was broken following a sloppy double fault, then he was warned for smacking a ball out of the stadium.

He did eventually get his act together to win the match but he made it much harder than it should have been against a player ranked 219th in the world - continuing to moan and whinge throughout the contest, at one stage ranting about how the courts were too slow.

“There’s not meant to be rallies on grass,” he growled. “Stop making it so slow, my god.”

Alex de Minaur is also through to the second round at Wimbledon. Picture: Getty

Meanwhile, Australia’s highest ranked player, Alex De Minaur, won his first round match without any fuss or meltdowns.

Seeded 19th, De Minaur swept past Hugo Dellian of Bolivia 6-1 6-3 7-5.

Australia’s highest ranked female, Ajla Tomljanovic, upset Swiss 18th ssed Jil Teichmann 6-2 6-3 to was into the second round.

Tomljanovic is the only Australian woman through so far after Zoe Hives, Daria Saville and Astra Sharma all lost on Tuesday.

Kyrgios and De Minaur are in the easier bottom half of the draw, which is already opening up after one of the biggest stumbling blocks lurking in their path pulled out after testing positive to Covid.

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who made the Wimbledon final a year ago and was among the favourites this time around, withdrew after a Covid test came back positive.

“I am heartbroken,” he said.

“I have no words to describe the extreme disappointment I feel.

“The dream is over for this year, but I will be back stronger.”

Berrettini was due to play Chile’s Cristian Garin in his opening match and was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Elias Ymer of Sweden.

Seeded eighth, Berrettini was one of the form players heading into the championships after winning back to back titles on grass - at Stuttgart and Queens.

De Minaur was on track to face Berrettini in the fourth round with the unseeded Kyrgios to tackle him in the quarters.

The men’s draw is now missing five of the top 20 players in the world - including the top two, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zvererev.

Originally published as Wimbledon Day 2 results, news: Nick Kyrgios spit storm erupts as Piers Morgan slams Aussie