'Not like Zverev' – Nick Kyrgios defiant despite almost hitting ball boy with racquet at Indian Wells

Nick Kyrgios lashed out at a reporter who dared ask him about a racquet smash that almost hit a ball boy after his stormy defeat to Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells. The Aussie lost a tense deciding set in the quarter-final clash before exploding in rage. Ad/> After shaking hands with his opponent and the umpire, Kyrgios hurled his racquet into the ground – inadvertently sending it charging down the court towards the ball boy.

It would have likely struck the youngster, had they not taken evasive action. Australian OpenDylan Alcott — 'The future is definitely bright for wheelchair tennis' — Legends' VoiceAN HOUR AGO However, Kyrgios initially tried to downplay the incident, insisting it was nothing like Alexander Zverev’s shocking outburst in Acapulco. Zverev was handed a suspended eight-week ban and a suspended $25,000 (£19,000) fine after whacking the umpire’s chair with his racquet after a doubles defeat – narrowly missing Alessandro Germani’s feet – and branding him a “f****** idiot”.

“What would you like me to say about it? Obviously, was that my intention? No. Because I threw a racquet. Did I throw the racquet anywhere near him originally?" Kyrgios said.

«It landed a metre from my foot and skidded and nearly hit him. I’m human. Things happen like that.

Obviously it was a very misfortunate bounce. »I think if I did that a million times over it wouldn’t have gone that way. And what do you want me to say? It was three metres away from the kid.

«That’s a question you’re going to say after a three-hour battle against Nadal. That’s what you come here with?” When told that the ball kid had to duck, Kyrgios continued: „He ducked. Jesus.

All right. It was an accident. It was most definitely not like Zverev.