Ranking Nick Kyrgios' 15 most controversial and disrespectful moments

Nick Kyrgios has always been a talking point, though more often than not it’s for the wrong reasons. Ever since his sensational Wimbledon debut in 2014, the Aussie tennis star has rarely been out of the headlines – even when he hasn’t been playing.

Making his return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open this year after a troubled two years battling a wrist injury, we welcome Kyrgios back into the fold. Let’s take a look back at some of his most infamous moments over the years.

Kyrgios has always managed to get on the wrong side of the crowds, and at Wimbledon in 2015 he faced boos during his fourth-round loss to Richard Gasquet, with many accusing him of tanking points. He denied it at the time, but later revealed he's done some serious tanking in his time – more on that later!

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In a match against Andreas Seppi, Kyrgios let loose on the chair umpire and spectators complaining about the officiating and throwing in some signature pointed sarcasm and racket tosses. It wasn’t his worst meltdown, but it was a clear sign of what was to come.

Kyrgios loves pulling out the underarm serve, often to the fury of his opponents. Sure, it’s legal, but it’s also seen as trolling. Whether you call it disrespectful or genius, it’s classic Kyrgios.

Ahead of his second clash with old foe Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, Kyrgios was reported to be out drinking the night before. It didn't do him any favours as he would lose in four sets. Kygrios later revealed he had actually been out until 4am, according to Sky Sports, proving just how little he cared about the tournament that year.

The drinking didn't do wonders for his temper that day, as Kyrgios intentionally aimed a powerful forehand directly at Nadal's chest during the match (pictured). While Nadal managed to block the shot with his racket, Kyrgios showed zero remorse, later admitting in his press conference, "I was going for him. Yeah, I wanted to hit him square in the chest," as talkSPORT reported.

At the 2017 Laver Cup, Kyrgios had the chance to impress against the legendary Roger Federer, and for the first set he seemed to be in control. But then it all fell apart in the second set, as Kyrgios struggled to keep his focus on the game. The reason? "I lost concentration, I saw a really hot chick in the crowd," he said, as Express reported. "Like, I’m being genuinely honest."

After being fined for his Cincinnati antics (more on that later), Kyrgios declared, "The ATP is pretty corrupt," as the BBC reported at the time.  While he later walked back the comment, it didn’t exactly win him any friends in high places.

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In one of the wildest matches of the year, Kyrgios baited Stefanos Tsitsipas into losing his composure, turning their third-round clash into a circus. From on-court arguments to emotional outbursts, the chaos overshadowed the actual tennis. Still, it definitely wasn't boring!

During the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, Kyrgios complained to the umpire about a heckling fan, claiming she was "drunk out of her mind" and had "700 drinks." The fan, unfortunately for him, was a lawyer, and tried to sue Kyrgios for defamation. The issue was eventually resolved with the Aussie firebrand apologizing and donating $20,000 (£16,000/€18,500) to charity in her name, as the Guardian reported.

The 2019 Italian Open saw one of his most explosive meltdowns. During his second round match with Casper Ruud, Kyrgios, furious with some line calls, hurled a chair onto the court, smashed his racket, and kicked a water bottle before storming off in the middle of the match. The ATP fined him $25,000 (approximately £20,000 or €23,000) and issued yet another suspension, costing him his place in the tournament.

Tanking is something Kyrgios has faced accusations of before, and he revealed in 2017 he had tanked eight tournaments at that point, per the Independent. One was certainly the Shanghai Masters 2016. Kyrgios’ lack of effort during a match against Mischa Zverev was blatant. He lazily lobbed serves and walked away from rallies, prompting boos from the crowd. The ATP fined him and suspended him for eight weeks, making it one of his most infamous displays.

At the 2018 Queen's Club Championship, Kyrgios made headlines for mimicking a lewd act with a water bottle as cameras zoomed in during a changeover. While some laughed it off, many pundits didn't think it was a good look on the global stage. He was fined $17,500 (£14,000/€16,000) for the gesture.

That’s nothing compared to the fine he copped at the 2019 Cincinnati Open for what is possibly his best known meltdown. In addition to calling chair umpire Fergus Murphy "a f*ing tool," Kyrgios left the court without permission to smash two racquets, which he brought back to the court. The ATP fined him $113,000 (approximately £90,000 or €105,000) – the largest fine they have ever issued.

Not a tennis court this time, but an actual court. In 2022, Kyrgios was charged with assault for an incident involving his former girlfriend, Chiara Passari. The charge stemmed from a 2021 altercation where Kyrgios allegedly pushed her. In early 2023, Kyrgios pled guilty but avoided a conviction, with the court dismissing the case, citing the low level of the offense, as ESPN reported. While he expressed regret, the situation added a serious off-court controversy to his already turbulent career.

No one saw this one coming – not Stan Wawrinka, and definitely not the fans. Mid-match at the Montreal Masters, Kyrgios told Wawrinka that fellow pro Thanasi Kokkinakis had "banged your girlfriend," per ABC. Caught on a courtside mic, the line sparked a nuclear meltdown in tennis circles. His justification: "I don't know. I just said it." The ATP fined Kyrgios $10,000 (£8,000/€9,300), but the real damage was to his already shaky reputation.

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