- Aussie tennis fans criticised for bad behaviour
- Kyrgios fans cheered Jacob Fearnley’s errors
- Kyrgios’ comeback ended in straight sets defeat
Australian fans have been targeted by the tennis world for their behavior during Nick Kyrgios’ first round loss against Jacob Fearnley at the Australian Open on Monday night – but many locals have hit back at the critics.
The 29-year-old Australian firebrand claimed an abdominal strain plagued his serve in a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 7-6 (7-2) loss to Scot.
It was Kyrgios’ first grand slam in two years and fans packed into John Cain Arena to lend their home support.
The crowd found their voice in the third set when the mercurial Aussie mounted a comeback and looked like he might take the match to another set.
However, many tennis fans objected to the parochial crowd, who started cheering for Fearnley’s errors and faults.
The young Scot kept his head throughout, but droves of fans took to social media to label the behaviour from Aussie fans ’embarrassing’.
Australian fans have been blasted for their behavior during Nick Kyrgios’ first round loss

Many tennis fans objected to the parochial crowd, who started cheering for Fearnley’s errors and faults during the third set
‘There’s nothing like a Kyrgios game to make me ashamed to be Australian.
‘This crowd for the #Kyrgios match is embarrassing. Cheering missed serves. Refusing to be quiet. Booing. Jeering. Downright unAustralian. But it is #Melbourne
‘Jacob Fearnley has served 12 aces so far against Nick Kyrgios, and the crowd remain silent – no applause. Such bad sportsmanship from the Aussies.
‘The crowd at this Kyrgios match are an embarrassment! Cheering faults!’
Other fans argued back that it was natural for Kyrgios to have loud support at his home grand slam.
‘It’s the Australian crowd supporting their guy I mean isn’t it usual for everyone to do it at thee home ground/court happens everywhere?’ replied one X user.
‘How dare Australians support Australian player playing in Australia?’ said another
‘This is Australia. Deal with it. They’ll question if Fearnley supporters have visas between points,’ replied a third.







A devastated Kyrgios admitted on Tuesday evening that this could be the last time he would play singles at the Australian Open.
Doubts had been raised over his fitness coming into the Australian Open, with the 29-year-old, who has battled hard to come from a career-threatening wrist injury, previously admitting that it would be a ‘miracle’ if he could make it back for the first slam of 2025.
But after being knocked out of his home slam, Kyrgios raised fears over his future playing career: ‘Realistically, I can’t really see myself playing singles again here.
‘So… It was special. I’ve taken that in. It was pretty good. I mean, yeah, I knew I had doubles and I was kind of taking everything in tonight, in those moments.’
‘It was nuts. But yeah, I didn’t want to just throw in the towel or walk off or retire.’
He added that he was ‘hurting physically’ but he wasn’t going to let down the fans ‘who had waited hours’ outside Melbourne Park to get into the grounds today.
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