Nick Kyrgios was defaulted from his second round Italian Open clash against Norway’s Casper Ruud on Thursday after the hot-headed Australian hurled a chair on to the court.
World No. 36 Kyrgios was given a code violation for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ after being broken early in the third set.
Having already been handed a code violation earlier in the match, the latest outburst meant the umpire also handed him a game penalty.
This prompted an angry Kyrgios to slam his racket into the ground and kick a water bottle before he tossed a chair towards the centre of the court.
The frustrated 24-year-old shook hands with his opponent and the umpire before he strode off the court, effectively defaulting himself from the contest.
The Australian’s outburst comes just a day after he launched an astonishing attack on some of the biggest names in tennis as part of a podcast at the Rome Masters.
Kyrgios revealed his disdain for the “cringeworthy” post-match celebrations of world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and the “super salty” attitude of 11-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal.
Ruud was leading 6-3, 6-7 (5), 2-1 when Kyrgios was disqualified and will face Juan Martin del Potro in the third round.