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Watch: Kyrgios On Crash and Burn


Roars of support echoed in his ears as Nick Kyrgios stepped onto Hisense Arena as a resounding fan favorite.

The Australian No. 1 departed to a chorus of caustic boos suffering a major crash-and-burn in the Australian Open second round.

Watch: Andreas Seppi Q & A

One of tennis' most polarizing players produced a good, bad and ugly performance.

After a strong start, Kyrgios emotionally unraveled squandering a two-set lead and a match point as 89th-ranked Italian Andreas Seppi fought back for a dramatic 1-6, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 triumph.

"Obviously it's not the greatest thing to hear," Kyrgios said of the fans response. "I didn't have the best preparation coming into the Australian Open. Pretty banged up, my body.

"You know, I don't even know what the score was in the end. Was it 10-8? 10-8 in the fifth, getting booed off, definitely not the best feeling."

Even worse were the self-inflicted wounds Kyrgios caused.

Punctuating successive double faults by cursing, Kyrgios was hit with an audible obscenity violation. Kyrgios compounded that transgression trashing his Yonex racquet to the court incurring yet another code violation and a point penalty.



Though Kyrgios was pained by a knee injury he sustained before playing Hopman Cup, he conceded mental failings were the key to his downfall.

"I think it's mental. Mental side of things are big for me," Kyrgios said. "That's where a coach would be good. But obviously I wasn't physically 100 percent. But it's mental, as well. A massive part of it.

"But, I mean, he played well, as well. Thought he served great today. I got a lot of respect for him. He fights hard. He deserved it."

Looking disinterested in the fourth set, Kyrgios fought in the fifth set, but by then the damage was done.   



ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer John McEnroe, who ripped Kyrgios for a lack of fight in his Wimbledon loss to Andy Murray last summer, was critical of Kyrgios' lackluster effort in the fourth set.

"Well, my body was sore. I was hurting," Kyrgios said afterward. "I mean, John McEnroe, was it John McEnroe? Good on him. Great career. Good on him."

It's marks the third consecutive Grand Slam appearance where Kyrgios has produced an apathetic performance. 

He retired with a right hip injury while trailing Illya Marchenko, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the US Open third round. That loss came after a straight-sets loss to Murray at Wimbledon that prompted McEnroe to question Kyrgios' commitment.

"He's not even on the court mentally," McEnroe said during that defeat. "He's snapped."

Asked later in his post-match press conference if he has a future coach in mind, Kyrgios sarcastically replied: "Asked Johnny Mac, mate. Just talk to him. He knows everything."

Seppi's comeback conquest of Kyrgios came two years after the then Aussie teenager rallied from two sets down to defeat the veteran Italian, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 8-6, and become the first Aussie man to reach the last eight at his home Slam since 2005.

It's been two years since Kyrgios contested the Australian Open quarterfinals, which remains his last major quarterfinal appearance.

After suffering his earliest Melbourne exit since 2014, Kyrgios suggested his next move may be hiring a coach.

"I mean, the coach is always a question mark for me," Kyrgios said. "I think that's one area where I obviously need to start taking a bit more seriously. I mean, I don't think there's anyone in the top 100 without a coach except for me. That needs to change.

"Got to start taking it more seriously. Pre-season is an important part of the year. You build foundations for the rest of the year. Yeah, it's on me."

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve 

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