Kyrgios faces fresh tanking row after Australian Open exit
The firebrand Australian and local hope for the title was knocked out by Andreas Seppi and again accused of not trying in his second round match.
Nick Kyrgios was booed off court and accused of giving up as he crashed out of the Australian Open second round in a stormy five-set defeat to Andreas Seppi on Wednesday.
In a madcap match, 14th seed Kyrgios looked in command with a two sets lead before a familiar meltdown in the third set changed the complexion of the contest.
The 89th-ranked Seppi, who saved a match point, advanced to a third-round match with Belgium's Steve Darcis with a 1-6, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2, 10-8 win in three hours, nine minutes.
Kyrgios was booed off the court by some of the fans, while tennis great John McEnroe hit out at the brash youngster.
"What I don't understand, what I can't accept, is when he stops trying. It's a black eye for the sport," McEnroe said during television match commentary.
Kyrgios said of McEnroe's criticism: "My body was sore. I was hurting. I mean, John McEnroe. Good on him. Great career. Good on him."
Kyrgios was also dismissive of the booing, saying: "Yes, obviously it's not the greatest thing to hear. 10-8 in the fifth, getting booed off, definitely not the best feeling."
Kyrgios's 2016 season was ended by an ATP suspension for "not trying" at the Shanghai Masters, a ban that was curtailed when he agreed to see a sport's psychologist.