Nick Kyrgios was booed off the court in his quarter-final at the Atlanta Open as he retired hurt.
Just a day after the Australian told reporters if he's playing his best it would be "tough to lose", Kyrgios had to call it quits after reportedly suffering a hip injury.
Struggling with his movement, Kyrgios saw the trainer in the first set and underwent treatment on the court.
The effort disappeared late in the opening set as opponent and world number 73, Cameron Norrie, took the opener.
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Kyrgios then double-faulted to give his British opponent the early break in the second, before the Aussie pulled the pin after 52 minutes, down 7-5 3-0.
.@cam_norrie 🇬🇧 is headed to the BB&T #AtlantaOpen semifinals after @NickKyrgios 🇦🇺 retires. pic.twitter.com/E9Ut9ZzrPZ
— BB&T Atlanta Open (@BBTatlantaopen) July 28, 2018
The Aussie had been his flamboyant self in the match, doing some on-court impersonations to keep the crowd happy.
However, as the injury set in, instead of receiving a gentle send-off, Kyrgios was jeered off the court as his injury struggles in 2018 continued.
Down 5-7, 0-3 to Cameron Norrie, Nick Kyrgios retires in Atlanta QFs.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 28, 2018
And gets booed.
"I really feel for the guy," Norrie said after the match.
"He's so talented. Who knows what he could do in tennis if he was healthy?"
"He was imitating (Federer's) serve a little bit and Tsonga's and Monfils. It was good. But I can't really laugh at all because I'm playing against him.
"I'm proud of myself how I managed to focus throughout the match."
A day earlier, Kyrgios had pumped up his chances following a cruisy 7-5 6-2 win over American Noah Rubin.
"I always feel comfortable playing here... the court suits my game style," he said yesterday.
Despite the retirement, the usual hot takes were pointed squarely at the Aussie's perceived lack of effort.
Nick Kyrgios is embarrassing to watch. You don't know whether he's match fixing or just 'up to his old tricks'
— Tom Collins (@TomptinRP) July 28, 2018
@NickKyrgios Thank you for make me realise how pathetic I’ve been your fan for years and I to trust you, but yet you continued to give me reasons not to. You are pathetic unprofessional. You should be embarrassing yourself, you lost my fortune. I am no longer as your fan
— Leo Chabert (@Leo_Chabert) July 28, 2018
Biggest bellend on the @ATPWorldTour goes to @NickKyrgios what a disrespectful prick. Throw the set away and no effort what so ever. ATP should be taking action. People pay to see tennis not this farce.
— Ry. (@Ry4ncj) July 28, 2018
Nick Kyrgios out there just tossing away the match after dumping the first set. I've seen him do this over and over again. I don't think he will ever mentally click at this point.
— missourinole (@missourinole) July 28, 2018
Did no one else see #nickkyrgios hit a serve the wrong way? Never seen anyone do that before so disrespectful. @haralabob pic.twitter.com/QkqYH7LtmU
— Bryan Cale Hammond (@Bchammo15) July 28, 2018
tournament directors please stop putting @NickKyrgios on center court in the showcase match. Guy is a disgrace to tennis. I feel really bad for fans that paid to watch this garbage.
— Taylor Vaughn (@VaughnT1414) July 28, 2018
Australia's Nick Kyrgios gets blasted on twitter after his match retirement with the score at 7-5, 3-0 to Cameron Norrie from Great Britain. Accusations of tanking are out there again. Will be interesting to hear what the reason was for the retirement. #australians #basketball pic.twitter.com/hA43U1ZbtM
— Rob (Robert) Keating (@RobKeating) July 28, 2018
However, Matt Ebden will fly the Aussie flag in the final four after he defeated Marcos Baghdatis in just 71 minutes.
Ebden broke the Cypriot's serve three times to win through to his second tour-level semi-final of the year with the 6-3 6-2 result.
Chasing a maiden ATP Tour title, the world no. 55 Australian will play top seed John Isner for a place in the final.
