Nick Kyrgios admitted spitting at a fan at Wimbledon, saying they were being disrespectful
Getty/Adam Davy
- Nick Kyrgios admitted spitting at a fan at Wimbledon at his first-round match on Tuesday.
- He said they were at the match "just to stir up disrespect."
- The fan had been clapping Kyrgios' mistakes and heckling him during points.
Nick Kyrgios defended spitting at a fan during his first-round win at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
The Australian was seen exchanging words with a group of fans throughout his 3-6 6-1 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 win over Great Britain's Paul Jubb.
The group sarcastically clapped when Kyrgios made mistakes and heckled him during points, prompting Kyrgios to complain to the chair umpire numerous times about their behavior and ask that they be removed.
Footage circulated on social media appeared to show Kyrgios spitting in one fan's direction at the end of the match.
Asked on Tuesday if he did spit at the onlooker, he said: "Of one of the people disrespecting me, yes. I would not be doing that to someone who was supporting me."
"Today, as soon as I won the match, I turned to him. I've been dealing with hate and negativity for a long time, so I don't feel like I owed that person anything," he added.
"He literally came to the match to not even support anyone really, just to stir up disrespect. That's fine, but if I give it back to you, that's just how it is."
Kyrgios went on to hit out at the line judges on the day, accusing them of being too old.
"I said most of the umpires are older and I just don't think that's ideal, when you're playing a sport of such small margins," he said.
"Factually, people that are younger have better eyesight. Do you not think that's appropriate?
"When you're playing a sport for hundreds and thousands of dollars, do you not think that we should have people that are really ready to call the ball in or out?"
Kyrgios could face a fine for the spitting incident if it is reported to the referee's office.
That office, alongside the Grand Slam supervisor, would decide on any punishment.