Yardbarker
x
Nick Kyrgios says he smelled marijuana during U.S. Open win
Aug 29, 2022; Flushing, NY, USA; Nick Kyrgios of Australia after winning the first set against Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia on day one of the 2022 U.S. Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios says he smelled marijuana during U.S. Open win

Passionate tennis fans will likely be less-than-shocked to learn that Nick Kyrgios, this year's Wimbledon runner-up, was in headlines on Thursday morning for reasons that had little to directly do with a win. 

The Australian who was fined earlier this summer for spitting in the direction of a fan he said heckled him during a Wimbledon victory was recently sued after he accused a different spectator of being "drunk out of her mind" because she supposedly "had 700 drinks" during the Slam's final. Kyrgios defeated Benjamin Bonzi 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday night, but his actions during the match have caused quite a stir. 

Per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Kyrgios could be heard asking chair umpire Jaume Campistol to warn the crowd after the 27-year-old complained about what he said was the smell of marijuana inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Campistol reportedly responded that the smells were coming from kitchens used for concession stands. 

"When I'm running side to side, I'm struggling to breathe," Kyrgios explained after telling reporters that he is asthmatic. "Probably not something I want to be breathing in in-between points." 

According to Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post, Kyrgios also appeared to spit and even curse toward his own team box during the match. 

"Go home if you’re not going to f------ support me, bro," Kyrgios allegedly said toward the box. 

Kyrgios will next face American J.J. Wolf in the tournament's third round on Friday. 

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.