‘It’s not real’: Nick Kyrgios disgusted by Wimbledon oversight

Nick Kyrgios should have been happy breezing into the third round but there’s something really playing on his mind at Wimbledon.

Nick Kyrgios is into the third round at Wimbledon after beating Gianluca Mager 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 6-4 on Friday morning.

The Aussie had a much easier time getting past the Italian than he did overcoming 21st seed Ugo Humbert in the first round, after their clash went for five sets across two days because of Wimbledon’s curfew rule.

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Kyrgios was up to his usual tricks on Court 3. Before match point against Mager he wandered over to the stands and asked a fan where he should serve, the woman leaning over and whispering into his ear.

He won the point easily, pointing to the spectator in gratitude after wrapping up the comfortable straight sets victory.

Nick Kyrgios asking a fan where he should serve on match point. Just delightful. 🍓 pic.twitter.com/nB4JNkduVI

— ⭐ amy o'connor ⭐ (@amyohconnor) July 1, 2021

It’s the fifth time in his career Kyrgios has reached the third round at Wimbledon, sending down 29 aces and whipping out 48 winners in a dominant performance that included just 11 unforced errors.

However, there were still times when the 26-year-old lost his temper, once again raging at the quality of the surface. Midway through his match against Humbert, Kyrgios complained the grass court was too slow and he was back at it again on Friday morning.

“It’s not even real grass!” he yelled to the crowd at 5-5 in the first set. “I don’t know if you know this, but on grass it’s supposed to slide away.

“Now it just pops up, it’s ridiculous.

“Make it real grass! Jesus.”

Speaking to the umpire, Kyrgios added: “I feel like I’m playing at Roland Garros. It’s an absolute joke.”

Kyrgios also argued with the umpire after being called for a foot fault, but kept his cool to close out the match in an hour and 50 minutes.

He will face Canadian young gun Felix Auger Aliassime in the third round.

Nick Kyrgios delivered a serving masterclass.

Plenty of players have been slipping all over the place as Wimbledon’s grass courts come under scrutiny. Kyrgios himself suffered a scary fall against Humbert, Adrian Mannarino retired against Roger Federer after taking a nasty tumble and Serena Williams lost her footing and had to quit in round one.

Asked after his opening win at the All England Club whether the constant slipping has been a talking point within the locker room, Kyrgios said it’s unfortunate but comes with the territory of playing on such a unique surface.

“I don’t think the rain helps, especially the outside courts when it gets slippery and a bit unpredictable,” Kyrgios said.

“It’s just sometimes what happens on the grass. I think the game’s evolved now where there’s so many rallies and players are so capable of making so many returns or that extra ball where the body’s actually not supposed to be in those positions and then people slip over and injuries happen.

“The load as well. These players have played a lot of matches and the tennis schedule is brutal, it’s absolutely brutal. You’ve got the French Open (in May and June), then you’re on the grass and you’re just expected to bring out you best tennis from week to week.

“I don’t know if there’s a solution but it just is what it is on the grass … the grass has got that unpredictable factor that there’s no guarantee any time you go out there that you could be injured.”