Nick Kyrgios has huffed and puffed his way into the second round of the US Open
Nick Kyrgios has huffed and puffed his way into the second round of the US Open in the blistering New York heat.
The Australian spent much of the match against Moldovan Radu Albot complaining of fatigue as temperatures soared to 35C.
At one point he turned to his supporter’s box and said: ‘I’m f***ed, my legs are f***ed. I’m cooked, I’m f***ing done. I can’t play.’
He was also spotted casually singing along to Lenny Kravitz’s ‘Fly Away’ as the tune was played at the Louis Armstrong Stadium during the end of the second set.
Kyrgios later said his bizarre on-court antics ‘keep [him] relaxed’.
He pulled through to take the first-round match in four sets, before revealing his next move.
‘I knew it was going tough match. I’m just happy I got through it… But right now I just want to get something to eat. I’m hungry,’ Kyrgios said.
The Australian (pictured with Ajla Tomljanovic) spent much of the match against Moldovan Radu Albot complaining of fatigue as temperatures soared to 35C
At one point he turned to his supporter’s box and said: ‘I’m f***ed, my legs are f***ed. I’m cooked, I’m f***ing done. I can’t play’
After sauntering through the opening set on Tuesday night (local time), recovering from a service break down, Kyrgios collapsed in the second, constantly moaning to his players’ box during changeovers.
But, after a series of mid-match retirements over the past two years, the writing looked on the wall when Kyrgios dropped the second set and offered the world No.95 another break-point opportunity early in the third.
ESPN commentator Luke Jensen questioned Kyrgios’ effort when he appeared to leave his opponent’s winner when the ball was well within reach.
‘He didn’t run for it. After this brilliant return, he just watches the ball in the middle of the court,’ Jensen said.
‘Right now I just want to get something to eat. I’m hungry,’ Kyrgios said after the four-set win
Kyrgios (pictured with Ajla Tomljanovic) later said his bizarre on court antics ‘keep me relaxed’
‘When does it go to the tanking element? When does the umpire start going ‘You’re not even running to the ball?’
But Kyrgios emerged from his malaise, breaking Albot after luring him to the net with a casual tweener, then firing a forehand pass cross court.
Kyrgios carried the momentum into the fourth set, breaking Albot twice more to charge ahead 4-0 before sealing victory after two hours and 20 minutes.
The labouring win set up a meeting with Pierre-Hugues Herbert, with the victor likely to run into five-times champion Roger Federer in the third round.
ESPN commentator Luke Jensen questioned Kyrgios’ effort. Some fans on Twitter agreed
Kyrgios returns the ball during his men’s singles first round match against Radu Albot