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SHANGHAI. – Nick Kyrgios was booed off court at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament after going through with a threat to quit his match if he lost the first-set tie-break yesterday. The Australian lost the tie-break 7-5 to Steve Johnson soon after receiving a warning for smashing two balls out of court in frustration at a line call.

He was also given a point penalty for an audible obscenity in the first-round match. At the same tournament last year he was fined for his behaviour and banned. The 13th seed was heard to say he would quit against Johnson if he lost the tie-break and, after his opponent served an ace on his first set point, Kyrgios walked over to shake hands.

Umpire Fergus Murphy asked the Australian if he needed medical help before the player walked off court to boos from spectators. The incident comes just two days after the temperamental Kyrgios lost to Rafael Nadal in the final of the China Open after becoming frustrated by a line call in the first set.

At last year’s Shanghai Masters, Kyrgios argued with the umpire and a spectator during a match with Mischa Zverev. He was fined $16 500 for his behaviour, which included “lack of best efforts”, and served a three-week tournament ban. – BBC Sport.