- Nick Kyrgios smashed his racket and threw it into the stands as he crashed out of an
Australian Open warm-up event on Friday. - The Australian was also warned for bad language by the umpire as he was beaten in straight sets by Borna Coric.
- "There's a massive question mark for me," Kyrgios said after the defeat.
Nick Kyrgios smashed his racket and threw it into the stands as he crashed out of an Australian Open warm-up event on Friday, his second outburst in as many matches as he returns to the sport after a year's break.
The Australian was also warned for bad language by the umpire as he was beaten in straight sets by Borna Coric in the second round of the Murray River Open.
Kyrgios' problems on the day began after the end of the first set when he required treatment on a recurring knee injury.
"I can't serve without pain. When I land it feels unstable," Kyrgios told his trainer. "I'll probably just play one more game."
The 25-year-old, playing in only his second competitive game in a year, carried on and was warned by the chair umpire for an expletive-laden rant at 4-4 in the second set.
After Coric broke his serve, Kyrgios then smashed his racket and threw it into the empty stands, for which he was docked a point for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"There's a massive question mark for me," Kyrgios said after the defeat. "Even if I was completely healthy, not playing in a year, it's not easy to just turn around and prepare for an event just like that. It's not like a tap.
"I thought I did everything I could this week. I won a couple of matches, I had a lot of court time and practised every day, as well. I think I'm ticking the boxes, I think I'm giving myself a chance."
Friday's result came less than two days after Kyrgios stormed off the court and refused to carry on playing for almost five minutes during his win over Harry Bourchier.
Kyrgios was unhappy with being called for a time violation on his serve by chair umpire Jaume Campistol, who he called a "smart-ass."
He faces Frederico Ferreira Silva in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday.