(CNN)Tennis star Nick Kyrgios was involved in a fiery exchange of blows with the referee during his comeback win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the TP 500 Halle Open on Wednesday.
Kyrgios, 27, had smashed his racquet after losing the opening set and later locked horns with the referee after being timed for waiting too long between points.
The Australian continued to rant from his chair, arguing that he needs to wipe his hands before playing.
“He said I’m playing too slowly, statistically I’m one of the fastest,” Kyrgios told reporters after reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament in Germany.
“I had to go to the sidelines to get my towel, there’s this thing called sweat at 30 degrees Celsius running on your hands. I had to wipe my hands and he warned me.”
Despite the heated exchange of blows, Kyrgios regained his composure to win the next two sets, claiming a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win over his Greek opponent.
He wowed the crowd with some stunning shots throughout the competition, a reminder of what makes him such a dangerous player on turf.
“The support I’m getting from crowds around the world is incredible. They want me to go out and put on a show,” he added.
“I’m happy to still be able to reach this level with the tournaments I play. It’s a testament to how hard I work when I’m not playing.”
Kyrgios, whose outbursts on the court often make him a divisive figure among tennis fans, is unseeded in the tournament but will now face Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the next round on Thursday.
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