Kyrgios in racism flap with Aussie Olympic great
Print Edition
TEMPERAMENTAL Nick Kyrgios slammed Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser as a “blatant racist” yesterday after she told him to “go back to where his parents came from” following his stormy Wimbledon exit.
Kyrgios’s colorful antics, on show at the All England Club, have split Australians with some seeing him as good for a sport in need of characters, but others claiming his behavior is petulant and disrespectful.
After losing in four sets to France’s Richard Gasquet on Monday, he was accused of giving up or “tanking” a game during a disastrous second set and responded to media questions on the incident with a string of sarcastic replies.
Sporting icon Fraser, winner of eight Olympic medals for Australia including four golds from 1956-64, blasted his behavior in a television interview as “absolutely disgusting”.
“I am so shocked to think that he went out there to play and he tanked... he did all that tanking, it’s terrible,” she said.
She also appeared to take aim at Bernard Tomic, who was axed from Australia’s Davis Cup team on Sunday after a extraordinary tirade at Tennis Australia.
“If they don’t like it, go back to where their fathers or parents came from. We don’t need them in this country if they act like that,” she added.
Australian-born Kyrgios’s father hails from Greece while his mother is from Malaysia. Tomic is German-born with a Croatian father and Bosnian mother — the family migrated to Australia when he was three.
Kyrgios, who denied giving up in the second set as he was booed by the crowd, hit back at Fraser on Facebook. “Throwing a racket, brat. Debating the rules, disrespectful. Frustrated when competing, spoilt. Showing emotion, arrogant,” wrote the 20-year-old. “Blatant racist, Australian legend.”
Fraser’s comments provoked a social media storm and, after first defending herself against charges of bigotry, she later issued a statement apologizing to Kyrgios and Tomic.
“I want to unreservedly apologize for any comments that I made this morning which may have caused offense to my fellow Australians, including Nick and his family,” Fraser said.
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