Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has found himself in hot water yet again, following a bizarre outburst at the Shanghai Rolex Masters... for the fourth year in a row.
Kyrgios' latest round of unsportsmanlike antics took place Monday night at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, where the world's number 38 player suffered a stunning defeat to his 104th-ranked American opponent, Bradley Kahn.
As events unfolded on the court, the 23-year-old appeared disinterested and exchanged verbal jabs with French umpire Damien Dumusois.
Dumusois called Kyrgios out for lackluster play at one point, saying his efforts were "really borderline" during the second set.
Kyrgios threw a mini temper tantrum in response, telling Dumusois: "I don't care, bro. You have no right to tell me that it's poor."
Krygios arguing with Dumusois. Tennis TV screengrab via Twitter
At another moment in the match, Kyrgios appeared to mock the umpire, and could be heard saying "was that borderline?" after serving up an ace.
Kyrgios would go on to lose the match 4-6 6-4 6-3 in a shocking first-round exit.
At a press event in Shanghai, tennis superstar Roger Federer commented on Kyrgios' latest controversial meltdown, saying:
"I think it's really up to him where he wants to go and what his potential really holds. We don't really know and I don't think he really knows exactly what his potential is. And only through understanding work ethic and scheduling and whatever it might be, creating the right team around himself, only then can you unlock the potential really."
Added Federer: "He can win bigger tournaments and do all these things. But there is still a process in place. He needs to do like any other player needs to go through in order to be successful.”
Believe it or not, this isn't the first time we've seen the hot-tempered Aussie act like a big ol' crybaby in Shanghai. In fact, it appears to have become an annual tradition. In 2016, Kyrgios was fined and suspended for giving up halfway through a match:
Images via Tennis TV
A year later, he lost his temper at another umpire, picking up a penalty for an audible obscenity and storming off the court.
Screengrab via ESPN2/Youtube
And in 2015, he was fined USD1,500 for using obscenities during a match and calling the event a "circus."
Hey, what do you have against Shanghai, Kyrgios?
READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know About 2018 Shanghai Rolex Masters Tennis
[Top image via Tennis TV/Twitter]
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