Wimbledon bad boy Nick Kyrgios is ‘good for tennis’, claims quarter-final opponent Cristian Garin… despite the Australian being fined almost £12,000 in just over a week for spitting towards spectators and swearing
- Cristian Garin feels Nick Kyrgios is ‘good for tennis’ despite his bad behaviour
- The Australian has already racked up £8,260 and £3,300 fines at Wimbledon
- He was first sanctioned for spitting towards fans during the first-round last week
- Kyrgios was then fined for swearing during his fiery clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas
- The Wimbledon bad boy is set to face Garin in the quarter-finals on Wednesday
Cristian Garin feels his quarter-final opponent Nick Kyrgios is ‘good for tennis’ despite the controversy surrounding the Australian at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios beat Brandon Nakashima in five sets on Monday to make the last eight at the All England Club for a second time, the same number of fines he has received during this tournament.
The world number 40 received a 10,000 US dollars (£8,260) punishment after he admitted to spitting in the direction of a spectator who had heckled him during the first-round tie against Paul Jubb, and a 4,000 dollars (£3,300) fine for swearing during Saturday’s fiery clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Cristian Garin believes Nick Kyrgios is ‘good for tennis’ despite his controversial behaviour
The 27-year-old Australian has received almost £12,000 in fines since the start of Wimbledon
A third punishment could be on the horizon given Kyrgios, who has regularly clashed with line judges at this grand slam, broke the strict dress code at Wimbledon when he wore red Air Jordan trainers and a red cap for an on-court interview following his most recent victory.
But Garin, who needed four hours and 34 minutes to stun Alex De Minaur in his fourth-round match, insisted: ‘I think Nick is very good player. For me, maybe the best serve on tour.
‘Yeah, I’m in quarter-finals, you know you will play the best players in the world. He is for me one of the guys that I like to watch. He’s very good for tennis.
Kyrgios beat Brandon Nakashima in five sets on Monday to advance to the quarter-finals
‘I think Nick has to be seeded because he for me is one of the best players on the tour and on grass obviously. I mean, the opportunities you have to build. If we are in this round, we both beat good players.
‘I don’t see like an opportunity. I just want to enjoy, play my best, and fight every point as I always do.’
Kyrgios stepped on court to face Nakashima with his fellow Australian De Minaur two sets up against Garin.
The Chilean produced a sensational comeback and saved two match points before he edged a thrilling tie-break to claim a 2-6 5-7 7-6 (3) 6-4 7-6 (6) victory.
The Chilean will go head-to-head with Kyrgios on Wednesday for a spot in the semi-finals
‘I look at it as a big opportunity,’ Kyrgios admitted.
‘Garin is obviously playing great tennis. I walked on Centre Court with seeing the score two sets to love De Minaur. They were in a battle.
‘I was expecting to play Alex. I think Alex is a bit more comfortable on the grass. Then when I walked off the court and I got told it was Garin. It was surprising.
‘I look at it as an opportunity but I need to do so many things before that match to get ready.’
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