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A16 sports
Wednesday 30 March 2022
Kyrgios docked point, then game, and falls at Miami Open

By TIM REYNOLDS and then slammed his
AP Sports Writer racket to the court. He
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) was already upset with
— Nick Kyrgios lost his cool, Bernardes, for reasons that
then a point, then a game weren't immediately clear.
and then the match. "You have no idea. You
The all-too-familiar trend have absolutely no idea,"
that has often overshad- Kyrgios told the umpire dur-
owed the super-popular, ing the changeover, when
super-talented and super- he trailed the tiebreak 4-2.
perplexing Australian's ca- He double-faulted to go
reer path continued Tues- down 5-2, seemed to be
day at the Miami Open, speaking to someone near
where Kyrgios was ousted the side of the court, then
in the fourth round by No. gave a brief yell. He got
9 seed Jannik Sinner of Italy a point back to go down
7-6 (3), 6-3. 5-3, and that's when Ber-
How the match was won nardes apparently had
likely won't be remem- heard enough and issued
bered. Kyrgios' meltdown Kyrgios a point penalty for
will be, his afternoon re- unsportsmanlike conduct.
plete with racket throws "You're talking about me,"
and smashes, plenty of Nick Kyrgios of Australia, returns the ball to Fabio Fognini of Italy, during the Miami Open tennis Bernardes told Kyrgios, who
heated words with chair tournament, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. insisted he was merely talk-
umpire Carlos Bernardes Associated Press ing to a friend seated near-
and even a fan somehow by.
trying to get a selfie when doubles match later Tues- pressure," Kyrgios said ear- racket — which wound up Kyrgios then double-fault-
tensions were at their peak. day and tournament of- lier this week. "I couldn't nearly striking a ball boy. ed to lose the set and that's
When it was over, Kyrgios ficials said he planned on function with the negativity. That earned him a $25,000 when emotions truly spilled
was gracious with his op- holding a news conference Every day was just constant fine for a combination of over.
ponent, shaking his hand after that match. negativity from you guys, his antics and an audible "What's unsportsmanlike?
at the net and exchanging Kyrgios spoke earlier in this from eventually my family, obscenity. What is unsportsmanlike?"
a few pleasantries. Sinner tournament about how he eventually from my friends, Another fine might be com- he asked Bernardes re-
then shook hands with Ber- took inspiration from wom- from everyone. There was ing, since that his professed peatedly, before scream-
nardes, as is tradition, but en's star Naomi Osaka and no positivity, and it was happiness wasn't there ing that he wanted to talk
Kyrgios passed by him and the way she has shed light just eating me up and I just Tuesday, either. to a tournament official.
got in a few more words on the mental struggles genuinely hated my life. It's Sinner didn't know much "Get me someone now!"
before packing up his rack- that even elite athletes can taken a long time ... but I'm about what made Kyrgios Kyrgios said, then smashed
et bag and walking off the face. He acknowledged just happy now." so upset. "I just tried to stay his racket on the court four
court. that he's worked through is- The happiness got away in my zone, and, yeah, times. That's when Ber-
Kyrgios was in such a hurry sues as well. from him earlier this month I think that was the right nardes issued the game
to leave that he depart- "I felt like I constantly played at Indian Wells. After losing choice," Sinner said. penalty, putting Kyrgios
ed without grabbing the so much under that mental in the quarterfinals there The fireworks began in down a break before the
red-white-and-black Nike stress and negativity that to Rafael Nadal and shak- earnest during a first-set second set even started,
sneakers that were next to I genuinely just couldn't ing hands, Kyrgios went to tiebreaker, when Kyrgios and Sinner kept the lead
his seat. He was playing a function anymore with the his seat and smashed his missed a forehand wide the rest of the way.q
Usyk leaves Ukraine, preparing for rematch with Joshua

Joshua after leaving his na- to host the fight. Joshua Usyk said he had the sup-
tive Ukraine, where he was regained his WBA, IBF and port of his friends and fam-
helping his country in the WBO belts by beating Andy ily in his bid to return to the
war with Russia. Ruiz Jr. in the kingdom in ring and beat Joshua for a
Usyk "is already in Europe" December 2019, only for second time.
to start training for a sec- the British fighter to lose "In this way, I can help my
ond fight with Joshua that them last September by country more and better
could take place in June, unanimous decision after than I would by being in
the champion's promoter, being outboxed by Usyk in the Territorial Defense and
Alexander Krassyuk, said. London. The rematch was running around Kyiv with
Krassyuk said locations expected to take place in a machine gun," he said
for the fight are being dis- the spring but has been dis- in a video message on In-
cussed. rupted by the war. stagram in which he spoke
"Late June is also the timing The 35-year-old Usyk re- mostly in Russian.
we are considering now," turned to Kyiv in February to Usyk, who made the step
Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine celebrates after his unanimous deci- he told Sky Sports late Mon- help defend Ukraine from up from cruiserweight
sion victory over Anthony Joshua of Britain in their WBA (Super),
WBO and IBF boxing title bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium day. the invading Russians. He where he was the unified
in London, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. "Many things will depend was pictured carrying an world champion, is from
Associated Press on how fast we manage to automatic rifle, flanked by Crimea and chose to stay
ink the papers." three other armed men in with Ukraine after Russia
LONDON (AP) — World Oleksandr Usyk is preparing Saudi Arabia is reportedly the Kyiv Territorial Defense annexed the peninsula in
heavyweight champion for a rematch with Anthony one of the places looking force. 2014.q