Nick Kyrgios retires in bizarre circumstances against Steve Johnson, blames 'stomach bug'
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ByEurosport
Updated 10/10/2017 at 12:56 GMT
Nick Kyrgios retired injured against Steve Johnson after losing the first set on a tie-break in the first round of the Shanghai Masters and later cited a stomach bug.
Nick Kyrgios
Image credit: Getty Images
The 22-year-old has been in fine form of late but the Australian star elected to retire after losing the set.
The day did not start well for the wildly temperamental Australian:
The world number 21 did not then appear to be struggling with injury during a fairly even first set that Johnson claimed on a tie-break.
Kyrgios hardly looked impaired as he hit 13 aces during his 58 minutes on court but sauntered off court as soon as Johnson had fired down an ace to take the set.
Kyrgios won the first three points but Johnson pulled back to level and umpire Fergus Murphy then gave Kyrgios a point penalty for an audible obscenity.
The 13th seed was heard to say he would quit if he lost the tie-break and, after Johnson served an ace on his first set point, Kyrgios walked over to shake hands.
Murphy asked Kyrgios if he needed medical help but, with boos ringing out, the Australian put his rackets in his bag and walked off court.
Later, Kyrgios issued a statement via his Twitter account in a bid to explain to fans what he was going through, specifically citing a stomach bug and a lack of food or sleep.
Shanghai Masters results
Albert Ramos (Spain) beat 7-Pablo Carreno (Spain) 7-5 7-5
Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Denis Shapovalov (Canada) 6-7(3) 6-3 6-0
Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) beat Jordan Thompson (Australia) 6-4 7-6(4)
Steve Johnson (U.S.) beat 13-Nick Kyrgios (Australia) 7-6(5) 0-0 (Kyrgios retired)
Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) beat Mischa Zverev (Germany) 3-6 6-5 (M. Zverev retired)
11-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) beat Adrian Mannarino (France) 6-3 6-1
12-John Isner (U.S.) beat Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(6)
Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) beat 14-Jack Sock (U.S.) 4-6 6-1 2-1 (Sock retired)
Aljaz Bedene (Britain) beat Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-1 6-4
Ryan Harrison (U.S.) beat Zhang Ze (China) 6-2 6-3
Additional reporting from PA Sport
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