Nick Kyrgios refuses to apologise for aiming to hit Rafael Nadal in the chest with the ball

Nick Kyrgios confessed he was aiming to hit Rafael Nadal with the ball during their second round match – before he shrugged off his defeat with a night out in the pub.

The 24-year-old Australian refused to apologise for thrashing a forehand directly at his opponent in their ill-tempered grudge match at Wimbledon yesterday.

The tennis badboy admitted he was ‘going for him’ and told a press conference after his four set defeat: ‘I wanted to hit him square in the chest.’ 

He said: ‘I don’t care. Why would I apologise? I mean, the dude has got how many slams, how much money in the bank account? 

‘I think he can take a ball to the chest. I’m not going to apologise to him at all.’ 

Hours later he was back at the pub for a second night in a row, filming himself on Instagram singing along to music while relaxing with friends at a private event.

Nick Kyrgios refused to apologise after admitting he aimed to hit Rafael Nadal with the ball

He looked calm and relaxed as he partied with friends after the match with Nadal on Centre Court.

Kyrgios struggled to keep his cool during the  encounter which the Spaniard won 6-3 3-6 7-6 (5) 7-6 (3).

As well as aiming to his Nadal with the ball, there were several other controversial moments during the spectacle.

Kyrgios argued with the umpire and delivered his trademark underarm serve on two different occasions.

Nadal was particularly angered by his use of underarm which also drew boos from the Centre Court crowd.

The 18-times Grand Slam winner appeared rattled at his opponent’s antics, loudly celebrating points in a display of emotional that is unusual for him.    

During the third set, the controversial Australian hit Nadal (top) with the ball during a rally

During the third set, the controversial Australian hit Nadal (top) with the ball during a rally

The Spaniard managed to stop the ball from hitting his body with his racquet

The Spaniard managed to stop the ball from hitting his body with his racquet

Nadal refuses to break eye contact with Kyrgios following the incident on Centre Court

Nadal refuses to break eye contact with Kyrgios following the incident on Centre Court

After the match, the Spaniard branded Kyrgios ‘dangerous.’ 

During the press conference, Kyrgios said: ‘Why would I apologise? 

‘I didn’t hit him. Hit his racket, no? Why would I apologise? I won the point.

‘I don’t care. Why would I apologise? I mean, the dude has got how many slams, how much money in the bank account? I think he can take a ball to the chest. I’m not going to apologise to him at all.

‘I was going for him. I wanted to hit him square in the chest. Like, he’s got decent hands.’

The Australian was perplexed by the notion that he should have said sorry to Nadal

The Australian was perplexed by the notion that he should have said sorry to Nadal

That was not the first time that Kyrgios had aimed to hit the ball as hard as he could at Nadal and several flew wildly out of court.

The Spaniard, aiming for a third Wimbledon crown, said: ‘The history of this sport is about respect and is about playing fair during the whole time.

‘I don’t say Nick does this stuff to bother the opponent, but it is true that sometimes he’s dangerous.

‘When he hits the ball like this, is dangerous. It is not dangerous for me, it is dangerous for a line referee, dangerous for a crowd.

‘When you hit the ball like this, you don’t know where the ball goes.

‘I know he’s a big talented player, but I am a professional player too. I know when you hit this kind of ball, the ball can go anywhere.

‘This time the ball went in, almost hit me, no problem. I am professional, so I know how to avoid this.

Kyrgios argued with umpire Damien Dumusois

The umpire gave Kyrgios a warning during the match

Kyrgios also vented his frustration at umpire Damien Dumusois, who he labelled a ‘disgrace’

Despite their war of words and heated match, the pair still shook hands following the result

Despite their war of words and heated match, the pair still shook hands following the result

‘But another one, the ball goes straight to the back. So (it would) have been a dangerous moment for the line umpire.

‘That ball hits an eye or something like this, is a problem. That’s it.

‘Is not about that I am angry about him at all. It’s about I want to play a match of tennis. Sometimes it is difficult.’

It was a sub-plot of a thrilling match on Centre Court that had underarm serves, arguments with the umpires and some fabulous tennis.

One of the catalysts of the spat between the two players is Kyrgios’ frustration at Nadal’s speed of play, something that earned him a warning for venting at umpire Damien Dumusois, who he called a ‘disgrace’.

He later added ‘terrible’ to his description of the official.

Kyrgios added: ‘I’m serving, I’m like starting my routine. Rafa said, ‘Stop’.

Kyrgios filmed himself singing on Instagram

The 24-year-old enjoyed himself at a party on Thursday night

Kyrgios didn’t appear too down about his defeat as he partied with friends at a private event

‘The rule is like play to the speed of the server. Why do I have to wait for him to get into his rhythm every time?

‘I got angry at the ref. He’s like, ‘No, I’ll tell him what I want to tell him’.

‘I was like, ‘Oh, a little bit of a power trip there’. He obviously feels pretty important sitting up in the chair.

‘He was just terrible. I thought the way he handled the match was just bad.

‘I just don’t think he was up to scratch today. That’s most definitely not why I lost.’

Kyrgios didn’t appear too down in the dumps about his second round defeat after he filmed himself singing and having a great time at a party.

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