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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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Controversial Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios smashed two of his rackets in an extraordinary outburst after losing his U.S. Open quarter-final against Russia's Karen Khachanov.
Kyrgios was beaten 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 by Khachanov, the 27th seed, in a hard-fought contest.
Following his defeat, the 27-year-old Australian walked towards his bags, then smashed his racket into the court four times. On the final hit he let go of the racket, which sprung across the court appearing bent and misshapen.
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Kyrgios then grabbed a second racket from his bag, which he then threw, leaving it visibly damaged.
Earlier in the match, after losing the first game of the third set, Kyrgios received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct after hitting his racket into the ground and throwing his water bottle, which court attendants had to clean up.
During the same incident he shouted at his team "do you guys even know what a break point is? It's f****** sad."
After the match Kyrgios told reporters he felt "mentally distraught."
The number 23 seed added: "I'm just devastated, obviously. I feel like it was either winning it all or nothing at all, to be honest. I feel like I've just failed at this event right now."
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Kyrgios has become infamous for his on-court antics and has been fined at numerous major tournaments after clashing with opposing players, spectators and umpires.
Earlier in the U.S. Open he was fined $7,500 after swearing and spitting towards his players box on court.
Addressing his team, including girlfriend Costeen Hatzi, he shouted "go home if you're not going to be f***ing support me bro."
In his native Australia he has been accused of assaulting an ex-girlfriend, with the first court hearing due to take place in October.
Legal action has also been launched against Kyrgios in the U.K., where he faces a defamation lawsuit from a fan he branded "drunk out of her mind" at this summer's Wimbledon.
On June 27 the Australian was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, the first time Kyrgios had reached the final of a grand slam tournament.
According to one social media user, Kyrgios treated spectators at the final, including eight-year-old Prince George and his parents Prince William and Kate Middleton, to "a masterclass in cursing."
Djokovic was unable to travel to this year's U.S. Open because of his refusal to get a coronavirus vaccine.
According to the CDC non-U.S. citizens must show "proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country."
Update 9/7/2022, 3:57 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with video footage of Kyrgios' meltdown and background information.
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