US Open: more lame excuses from Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios blamed a video game for his US Open failure. As usual, not his fault. Never is. His biggest problem is blame-shifting.

Nick Kyrgios … and his latest list of excuses.

More lame excuses from Nick Kyrgios. Another wasted year at the slams. Further proof that the most explosive and naturally gifted player in men’s tennis does not possesses either the mental toughness or emotional maturity required to win a major championship.

Kyrgios crashed out of the US Open today in a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 defeat to resolute young Russian Andrey Rublev. He complained to his courtside crew that too many hours playing the Call of Duty video game had left him unable to see properly. Yawn. It was all rather boring and amateurish. There was a lack of fight and honour. It wasn’t his fault. Never is.

Kyrgios’ biggest problem is blame-shifting. He’s never learned from losses and meltdown because he’s never conceded they were his fault. The umpire’s the culprit. Or the lines people. Or the ball kids who took too long to get his towels. Or the spectators who heckled him. Or the opponent who was looking at him the wrong way. Or his entourage. Or his brother, for not showing enough support. In round one, he whinged that his shorts were too tight. Senior figures at Tennis Australia have encouraged him to go a full year without making excuses. It hasn’t been this year.

And his season might be over. The ATP World Tour is set to announce its second phase of punishments for his appalling conduct at the Cincinnati Masters, including a spit at umpire Fergus Murphy. There’s every chance he will be suspended from the rest of this year’s tour. Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has no interest in picking him for the finals at Madrid in November.

Kyrgios entered today’s third-round match after criticising a leading American television commentator on Twitter. “Who the hell is Tom Rinaldi and why is he commentating a tennis match when he has no idea what is going on,” Kyrgios wrote. When Kyrgios walked down the narrow players’ tunnel that leads to the main court at the U.S. Open, he was greeted by Rinaldi.

“How are you? That’s hilarious,” Kyrgios said. “I was just watching some tennis this morning and I just didn’t know who one of the guys was, commentating the match. But officially nice to meet you and hopefully you call a good one.”

The broadcasters called a stinker. Kyrgios yawned before one first serve, complained about being blinded by the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium and told a member of his entourage: “I don’t even want to be here, bro. I just wanna be home”.

Asking for eye drops after three games, already moping as if the world was conspiring against him, as Rublev marched around with fantastically grim determination, Kyrgios said: “I throw the ball up in the air and I can’t see for, like, 30 seconds after.” The reaction here? A yawn of my own. Kyrgios said “whistleblower” to a linesman who reported him for swearing. Yawn. He told umpire Eva Asderaki to “get him off”. Yawn. “Gaming, bro. Call of Duty has ruined me,” he grumbled to his box about the first-person shooter video game. Yawn. He played three majors this year. Failed at all of them. Lessons learned? Probably none.