[imagesource: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images]

On Monday, February 8, the Australian Open is due to begin.

The lead-up has been a disaster, with players from around the world unhappy about the quarantines imposed on them after arrival.

Then, having completed the mandatory hotel isolation period, around 500 players, officials, and staff were forced back into quarantine this week after a positive COVID-19 case was identified at one of the event’s quarantine hotels.

Meanwhile, Cricket South Africa hosts a Sri Lanka tour, along with our women playing Pakistan in both an ODI and T20 series, without any COVID-19 incidents, yet Cricket Australia cancels their tour at the 11th hour.

Don’t get me started on that front.

Let’s focus on Ozzie Nick Kyrgios who, despite occasionally talking sense off it, remains a total doos on the court.

In his first competitive match in almost a year, against Alexandre Muller at the Murray River Open, he confronted chair umpire Adel Nour in the match-deciding third set tie-breaker.

Eurosport reports:

Kyrgios was visibly annoyed when a ball boy did not have the ball ready for him before losing a point. He requested the umpire to keep a closer eye on them.

“It is your job to not let that happen. Just admit it and say thanks,” he said.

Not awful, but also not the sort of thing most players are going to argue with the umpire over.

He added another chapter on Wednesday when he had an on-court meltdown during his round of 32 match.

Here’s NewsAU to set the scene before we roll the footage:

[He] stormed off the court and called the chair umpire a “smarta***” after being awarded a time violation during Wednesday evening’s game against Harry Bourchier.

During the second set of the Murray River Open clash, Kyrgios was repeatedly complaining about the limited time he had between serves.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, ball kids are no longer permitted to bring towels to players between points, meaning Kyrgios needed to retrieve the towel himself.

When umpire Nacho Forcadell finally called that time violation, Kyrgios threw his toys in a big way.

It’s all so utterly predictable:

The Ozzie does have a point, in that he was into his service motion when the violation was called, but come on.

John McEnroe did this years ago. The shtick is old.

Throughout the entire exchange, Bourchier waited in silence at the other end of the court, before being defeated 6-2 7-6.

All of this leads us to this morning, where Kyrgios suffered a 6-3 6-4 defeat by Borna Coric in the round of 16 match, reports SuperSport:

Kyrgios’ problems began early on Friday as he struggled with a left knee issue and needed treatment midway through the match at the Australian Open warm-up event…

The 25-year-old, playing his first tournament in nearly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, soldiered on and was warned by the chair umpire for swearing at 4-4 in the second set.

After his serve was broken, he smashed his racquet and threw it into the empty stands.

Watch from the 2:10 mark below:

Three matches in a row, three examples of why Kyrgios appears to be a toddler trapped inside a 25-year-old’s body.

Here’s hoping he suffers an early exit when the Australian Open begins.

[sources:eurosport&newsau&supersport]