“Is That a Serious Question?” – Nick Kyrgios Shuts Down Reporter at Australian Open 2020

The top-seeded Australian in the men’s draw Nick Kyrgios pulled off a challenging first-round win against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonega. The Aussie sealed 6-2, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (1) victory and sailed into the second round of the Australian Open 2020.

After his match-win Nick Kyrgios cleaned up his whereabouts around the courtside bench. Like every other tennis player, Kyrgios gave the towels and other souvenirs to his fans in the stadium.

By doing so, Nick ran out of souvenirs and he threw the banana peel or a half-eaten banana into the crowd. The spectator who caught that peel, willingly accepted the gesture from Kyrgios and was happy to receive it.

Later this incident was brought up in the press conference, and Kyrgios gave a bizarre reaction to it. The reporter asked: “Nick, there was a moment at the end of the match where you were cleaning up, I think you tossed away a banana. Was that just so the ball-kids wouldn’t have to do it?”

Kyrgios was annoyed to receive that weird question. “You’ve got to do better than that, bro,” an unimpressed Kyrgios bashed. “Is that a serious question? Oh my god. Next question.”

One more ‘banana’ moment at the Australian Open 2020

Apparently, the journalist was referring to another ‘banana’ incident in the tournament. Earlier in Melbourne World number 231 tennis player Elliot Benchetrit asked a ball girl to peel the banana for him during the qualifiers. She looked up at chair umpire John Blom. The umpire told Benchetrit off,  and in a jiffy, the girl handed back the fruit to him. Later Benchetrit was annoyed. 

“What sort of response do you want from me” – Nick Kyrgios blew up another reporter

There was a power cut during the second set in Kyrgios’ match. Another reporter asked him whether he was distracted due to the slight disturbance. “I won the match in straight sets. I wouldn’t say it was too much of a distraction,” World Number 26 Kyrgios hit back again. “The lights just dimmed. What sort of response do you want from me right now.”

The 23rd seed Kyrgios hit 14 aces and raised A$2,800 for the casket of his nation’s bushfire relief fund. Right after his first-round victory, John McEnroe announced a donation of A$1,000 to Aussie fund for every set Kyrgios wins in Melbourne beginning from the second round. Up next, the Aussie player will meet Gilles Simon in the round of 64.