John McEnroe Hits Out at 'Bonehead' Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios caught the eye for the wrong reasons again at the US Open, and John McEnroe appears to be tired of his antics.
OMNISPORT
John McEnroe blasted Nick Kyrgios as a "bonehead" following the Australian's latest antics in his US Open first-round defeat to Andy Murray.
World number three Murray proved too strong for Kyrgios as the two-time grand slam champion, a winner at Flushing Meadows in 2012, claimed victory 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1.
Kyrgios has regularly courted controversy in 2015 and was fined by the ATP last month after a Rogers Cup match with Stan Wawrinka in which he told the Swiss that fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with his girlfriend.
The 20-year-old has recently turned to former world number one Lleyton Hewitt to mentor him, but an otherwise relatively impressive performance from Kyrgios was overshadowed by more on-court histrionics at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Kyrgios appeared to try to take a nap during one of the changeovers, smashed his racket and launched an expletive-laden rant at umpire Carlos Ramos for allowing fans to enter the stadium during one of his service games.
But it was Kyrgios' failed attempt at a between-the-legs half-volley as he pressed to try to break Murray's serve in the second set that drew the ire of four-time US Open champion McEnroe.
McEnroe said of the shot on ESPN: "An absolute brain freeze. Absolute stupidity. He could have volleyed that away for another break-point chance.
"I hope he learns from these bonehead moves. He should be a seed already, at least 20. You don't want to be remembered as a clown. You want to be remembered as a player.
"So he better step up. Otherwise he won't be talked about too much. He thinks he's a vaudeville entertainer. I don't know what's going on here."