Australian Open: Tim Pütz not enthusiastic about Kyrgios - "It's just unsportsmanlike"
The dream of doubles specialist Tim Pütz (Frankfurt / Main) of the first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open has burst - the audience favorites were one size too big. But Nick Kyrgios went too far.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit: Jan 25, 2022, 09:27 am
The German Davis Cup player and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus had to admit defeat to local heroes Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios 5:7, 6:3, 3:6 in the quarter-finals in Melbourne in a heated atmosphere.
The Kia Arena was like a witch's cauldron, and the fans cheered enthusiastically every time the two Australians won a point. Sometimes the cheering went beyond what was reasonable, for example with boos when Pütz and Venus served. By winning the second set, they took some air out - but only for a short time. Kyrgios in particular kept whipping the crowd with sprawling gestures.
Pütz on Kyrgios: "Has nothing to do with entertainment"
Pütz emphasized that he didn't play so well with his partner, but he "didn't like the atmosphere that much", he said: "And I also think that's too much of a good thing. Tennis is entertainment, but that's closed a lot." But there are no real rules for these situations, the referee tried her best. "It was wild out there," said the 34-year-old, adding that Kyrgios had gone too far: "What he does between the first and second serve has nothing to do with entertainment. It's just unsportsmanlike."
Pütz was the last German in the singles or doubles competitions at the Australian Open. Most recently, he caused a sensation when he reached the semi-finals with the German team in the Davis Cup alongside Kevin Krawietz. At Grand Slam level, his best results were two quarterfinals at the French Open (2020, 2021).
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