Nick Kyrgios Melts Down at the Shanghai Masters

#Kyrgios two days after winning his biggest title. Also, "can you call time so I can finish this match & go home?" Video via @UnArdeal pic.twitter.com/zgUmuECA4Z
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) October 12, 2016

Controversial tennis player Nick Kyrgios came into the Shanghai Masters fresh off the high point of his career, a win in last week's Japan Open. One might think that would put the 21-year-old Australian in a good mood. One would be wrong.

Instead, Kyrgios pouted and tanked his way through his second-round match against German qualifier Mischa Zverev, losing 6-3, 6-1. By the end of the match, he wasn't even bothering to return serve. During a break in play, Kyrgios asked the umpire, Ali Nili, "Can you call time so I can finish this match and go home?"

Nili scolded the No. 12 player in the world: "Nick, you can't play like that, OK? This is not professional."

"Nick, you can't play like that, ok? This is not professional." #kyrgios pic.twitter.com/4GhN7blZSn
— Aliny Calejon (@alcalejon) October 12, 2016

Kyrgios finished with flare, arguing with a fan during match point. "You wanna come here and play? Sit down and shut up and watch," he yelled into the stands. Kyrgios left the court to a cacophony of boos from the Chinese spectators.

After the match, Kyrgios tried to explain away his pathetic effort:

"It was just tough. Obviously I played a lot of matches in a row. Physically tired, mentally tired.

"That's why I'm trying to work on being able to be consistent every week. Just took the easy way out tonight and obviously didn't show up at all.

"I wasn't so much frustrated. I just tapped out a little bit, I guess."

True, playing tennis matches can be exhausting. I mean, it's your job, but it's a physically demanding job, with all the running around and the jet lag from flying to Asia and everything. Lest he garner the slightest bit of sympathy, however, Kyrgios scoffed at the idea that the fans deserved better from him:

"I don't owe them anything. It's my choice. If you don't like it, I didn't ask you to come watch. Just leave.

"If you're so good at giving advice and so good at tennis, why aren't you as good as me? Why aren't you on the tour?

"You want to buy a ticket? Come watch me. You know I'm unpredictable. It's your choice. I don't owe you anything. Doesn't affect how I sleep at night."

So there you have it, tennis fans: Nick Kyrgios is tired, and his sleep will not be affected by you losers who aren't as good at tennis as he is. Just because you buy a ticket to a tennis match doesn't mean you should come in expecting actual tennis to be played.

[The Daily Mail]