Nick Kyrgios, who could be slapped with a $27,000 fine for allegedly giving up points, has denied accusations of tanking in a heated press conference after his exit from Wimbledon.
It is understood the Australian is likely to be found guilty of not giving his "best efforts" during the third game of the second set of the loss to Frenchman Richard Gasquet. He lost in four sets 7-5, 6-1, 6-7 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6).
But Kyrgios has gone out swinging in an explosive exchange with the media, who fired a barrage of questions at the 20-year-old demanding an explanation for what transpired on court on Monday.
"I kept playing," Kyrgios said.
But the reporters disagreed, riling the No.26 seed who exited in the fourth round.
"And that's coming from you? That's your opinion," Kyrgios said.
"Just frustration. I mean, it's tough out there. You know, I don't really know what else to say."
"You know, I'm not perfect out there. I'm going to have ups and downs. That's the way you respond from that. I think it takes some serious balls to respond the way I did.
But the media continued to press on whether he tanked the game.
"Do you want to try to return Richard Gasquet's serve? I'll give you the racquet and we'll see how many times you can return his serve also. Okay. He served too good."
Kyrgios and the reporters went back and forth exchanging statements and questions before Kyrgios clearly denied having given up points.
"No, of course, I tried," Kyrgios said.
"He hit serve past me as an ace. That's too good. That's too good ... I did move."
In the official grand slam rule book, it is written that "a player shall use his best efforts to win a match when competing in a grand slam tournament".
"Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to $20,000 (US dollars) for each violation. For purposes of this rule, the referee and/or the chair umpire shall have the authority to penalise a player in accordance with the point penalty schedule."
The Wimbledon crowd on showcourt two weren't impressed with what the Australian dished up in the third game of the second set, booing him for a perceived lack of effort.
But his resurgence in the third set was met with a warm welcome, despite the unpleasant gesture directed his way in the previous set.
"And then I started playing well and they started cheering," Kyrgios said.
"Did you hear that, too?"
Kyrgios also received a warning for using obscene language.
The under pressure Aussie seemed distracted during the loss to Gasquet, livid with himself and his support crew over the way he was performing.
The 20-year-old seemed unable to control his emotions and admitted his mind wasn't completely on the job, struggling to keep his focus on tennis.
"Just a lot of things going on.
"Yeah. You don't need to know about 'em."
His friend and fellow Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis didn't see the incident that evoked the allegations but said that sort of behaviour wasn't a surprise.
"I wouldn't say it's too surprising because I know what he's like," Kokkinakis said.
"But I just watched the end of it on TV - I was playing - so I was trying to keep focus; you can see the scores change from the courts and I was following the scores and when I saw 6-1, I thought something strange was going on with his serve.
"So I wasn't sure what was happening, but tennis can be a very frustrating sport sometimes and obviously he lost it a little bit there."
Kyrgios, who sought a hug from the ballboy during the match, looked a shadow of the player he was in the opening three matches.
He imploded, and by the time he got himself back into the match it was too late.
"I struggled to find some rhythm in the first couple sets," he said.
"I think that really hurt me. Obviously he's playing some great tennis. He beat Dimitrov in straight sets. He's been pretty comfortable on the grass.
"I only really started finding my rhythm in the third and fourth sets. Those are the sets that kept me in the match."
