Boy smashed in stomach by Nick Kyrgios' tennis ball breaks his silence

The youngster who copped an accidental tennis ball to the stomach from Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open has revealed it was 'quite a shock'.

Speaking to The Today Show on Wednesday, Fin Crane, 9, confirmed the ball thumped into his chest and 'really hurt.'

The pint-sized tennis fan has forgiven Kyrgios, who was playing a doubles quarter-final with Thanasi Kokkinakis on John Cain Arena against New Zealand's Michael Venus and Germany's Tim Puetz on Tuesday.

Perhaps sensing they could be defaulted for unsportsmanlike conduct, Krygios immediately apologised before handing one of his tennis racquets to a shaken and visibly upset Fin as a peace offering.

The move paid off, with Fin stating the Canberra born on-court entertainer is now his sporting hero.

'It hit me in the stomach and it did hurt,' Fin told Today Show viewers as he pointed to where the ball hit him.

'Giving me his bat (racquet) made me feel a lot better, he (Kyrgios) is now my favourite player.'

The drama started when Krygios let his frustrations get the better of him.

Reacting to a let call from the chair umpire on a Kokkinakis serve in the fourth game of the opening set, Kyrgios smashed the ball straight into the ground.

Hit with such velocity, it bounced into the stand and hit young Fin, leaving the boy in tears.

Kyrgios was shocked by what unfolded, covering his mouth as cameras turned to show Fin in pain and shock - while clutching the ball in his hand.

After beating Venus and Puetz across three pulsating sets, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis next face third seeds Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers on Thursday for a spot in the men's doubles final.

Matches featuring the 'Special K's' have lit up the tournament so far, with Kyrgios and Kokkinakis relishing the