Nick Kyrgios indifferent after first round US Open loss

Just moments after crashing out in the first round of the US Open, Nick Kyrgios casually admitted he would ‘get over it in half an hour’.

The No. 14 seed went down to fellow Australian and world No. 235 John Millman; a lacklustre finish to what he conceded was a ‘diabolical’ year of grand slams.  

In trademark Kyrgios style post-match, the mercurial talent said he wasn’t dedicated to the game ‘at all’ and would ‘probably not’ be changing his attitude to tennis.  

Having collected a shoulder injury, and a point penalty for swearing and racket smashing, he castigated himself for letting down his coach, Sebastian Grosjean. 

 

Nick Kyrgios has exited the US Open at the first round stage after his defeat on Wednesday

 The 22-year-old looked in discomfort as he received treatment to a shoulder injury

 The 22-year-old looked in discomfort as he received treatment to a shoulder injury

‘I’m not good enough for him,’ said Kyrgios, who reached the final of the Masters event in Cincinnati earlier this month. 

‘He’s very dedicated. He’s an unbelievable coach. He probably deserves a player that is more dedicated to the game than I am.

‘He deserves a better athlete than me. I’m not dedicated to the game at all. He’s helped me a lot, especially with the training. 

‘But you know what I mean. There are players out there that are more dedicated, that want to get better, that strive to get better every day, the one-percenters. I’m not that guy.

Asked whether he was inclined to change his way he replied: ‘I really don’t know. Probably not, honestly not. 

‘I have had a diabolical year at these Slams. It doesn’t surprise me. The last three months have been a nightmare, really.’

The Australian attempted a hot dog shot during his four-set defeat by compatriot John Millman

The Australian attempted a hot dog shot during his four-set defeat by compatriot John Millman

'Probably not': Kyrgios' brutally honest response to a reporter who asked him if he would be changing his attitude to tennis

‘Probably not’: Kyrgios’ brutally honest response to a reporter who asked him if he would be changing his attitude to tennis

He must have felt the world was against him when umpire Carlos Ramos issued a code violation against him after a linesman reported the 22-year-old swearing. 

Strictly, he did but the penalty seemed farcically harsh, with Kyrgios merely remonstrating with himself in exasperation on his way to a changeover.

‘I didn’t swear. You can’t give me a code. You don’t even know what I said,’ Kyrgios said.

Ramos said he believed Kyrgios.

‘But I need to believe him too,’ the umpire said. ‘I cannot repeat what he said you said.’

‘Man, this is ridiculous. What is this? This is a joke,’ Kyrgios added before going on to drop serve again to hand Millman a two-sets-to-one advantage.

With full power, Kyrgios promptly obliterated his racquet, drawing a second code violation and a mandatory point penalty to start the fourth set. 

Kyrgios receives a helping hand from a ball boy as he stretches his troublesome shoulder

Kyrgios receives a helping hand from a ball boy as he stretches his troublesome shoulder

 Kyrgios collected a shoulder injury and a point penalty for swearing and racket smashing

 Kyrgios collected a shoulder injury and a point penalty for swearing and racket smashing

Despite that he enjoyed a good run in Cincinnati, where he reckons he was less professional than had been in the run-up to Flushing Meadows.

‘In Cincinnati, I was not doing anything different. I was probably less dedicated than I was this week. I was playing basketball every day for two hours. 

‘I played an hour of basketball before I played David Ferrer in the semi final. I was going to this ice cream place getting a milk shake every day. I was less dedicated. 

‘And this week I was dedicated, and my shoulder starts hurting. I don’t know. 

‘Obviously I’m disappointed I lost today. It’s not the end of the world. I will get over it in probably half an hour. I will get food and watch the matches. 

‘It’s just the story of my career, really. I will have good weeks; I’ll have bad weeks. It’s just a roller-coaster.’

Kyrgios had looked sharp in the second set, sometimes putting in second serves at 130mph before he felt something go in the third and called on the physio for treatment.

‘My arm felt numb. What else do you want me to say? My arm is not broken, but it was sore.’

Kyrgios, who has failed to get past the second round in a Grand Slam this season, added that he still hopes to play for Australia in their Davis Cup semi-final against Belgium which follows the US Open.

Kyrgios embraces fellow Australian Millman at the net after his 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat

Kyrgios embraces fellow Australian Millman at the net after his 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat

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