It took a grand total of 12 minutes for an agitated Nick Kyrgios to cause a scene in his opening match at Wimbledon.
The 27-year-old Australian, who recently returned to the world’s top 40 – his highest ranking since August 2020 – was matched up against British wildcard Paul Jubb on Tuesday afternoon.
And things didn't exactly get off to the best of starts for the temperamental Kyrgios as he dropped the first set.
At 1-2 in the opening set, the Australian was far from happy with a spectator in the crowd on Court 3 and he soon made his feelings known to umpire Marija Cicak.
Advert
"You can't f***ing decide to talk to me in the middle of the point when I'm about to do a backhand, It can't be happening bro," he said.
"They can watch the tennis but speaking and shouting out in the middle of the point, like why? I don't know where it was."
After being broken to go 5-3 down against world number 227 Jubb, he also decided to smash a ball out of the All England Club and onto nearby Church Road.
In the next episode of Kyrgios' antics, he reportedly proceeded to call the line judge "the worst I've ever seen" before winning the second set 6-1.
Ahead of his opening match at Wimbledon, a relaxed Kyrgios compared his wildcard at the 2012 Australian Open to Yorkshire-born Jubb's current situation.
Advert
"I feel like I can put myself in his shoes very well," he said. "I was once that kid that got a wild card at the Australian Open.
“It felt really good just to be around, soak it all in, the media, the fans, everything, the hype. I know how he's going to be feeling. He's going to go out there and he's going to just play freely, nothing to lose.”
He also made the bold claim that he should "win easily" against Jubb, who is currently Britain's number 8 seed.
Advert
“Being in that position, I loved it. I was an underdog every time I walked out there," he added.
"I had no pressure. So I know it's going to be a dangerous match. It's not always easy to be the favourite, just sweep aside someone. Never. I've had matches like that and it hasn't gone well.
“I know I just got to ride the waves emotionally out there because the crowd is obviously going to be behind the local. I'm used to wearing that kind of black hat, the villain-type role. I'm going to embrace it.
"I'm just going to go out there and play the game."
Kyrgios will also plays in the men's doubles at Wimbledon this summer, although he isn't too happy about the rules, calling them the "stupidest thing ever."
Advert
He said: "I am not really looking forward to playing best-of-five-set doubles. I think it is the stupidest thing ever.
"I don't know why it is best of five sets. No-one wants to play best-of-five-set doubles, no one wants to watch best-of-five-set doubles.
"So I am excited, but I am also dreading the fact that if it is one set all I am going to have to be playing three more sets of doubles."
He added: "That's why I haven't played it before. It doesn't make sense, because I have always gone pretty well here in singles so I am not on my off day playing potentially five sets of doubles."
Featured Image Credit: BBCTopics: Nick Kyrgios, Wimbledon
