Japanese tennis star Yoshihito Nishioka was hit with two penalties after an epic meltdown during his second-round knockout at the Cincinnati Open.
Nishioka, the world No 52, led No 5 seed Hubert Hurkacz by a set but after being taken to a decider he imploded in eye-popping fashion, smashing balls into the crowd in frustration before gifting away a game on his way to defeat.
Hurkacz capitalised on his opponent’s rage to cruise through the rest of the match, winning 3-6 7-6 6-1, while Nishioka was left to issue a grovelling apology.
Serving at 1-2 in the deciding set, Nishioka faced a break point which Hurkacz converted ruthlessly by crashing in a return winner to secure the advantage.
Nishioka, incensed by the setback, promptly cannoned one ball into the stands before asking the ballgirl for another and also sending that one flying.
Japanese tennis star Yoshihito Nishioka had an epic meltdown at the Cincinnati Open
Nishioka was taken to a deciding set before smashing three balls into the crowd in anger
Chair umpire Aurelie Tourte then announced a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct with a spiralling Nishioka handed a point penalty.
Hurkacz, already at 15-0 thanks to the penalty, won the next point and Nishioka again lost his cool as he erupted and smacked a third ball out of the court.
‘Code violation, ball abuse. Game penalty, Nishioka,’ Tourte announced. Having surrendered at a crucial point in the set, the seething player retreated to his seat.
He shortly got up, however, before skulking to the back of the baseline, finding a chair behind the advertising boards and sitting down, muttering to himself.
Nishioka failed to win another game as Hurkacz booked his spot in the last-16.
‘I was already frustrated even before the tie-break in the second set,’ he said.
The world No 52 picked up another ball from a ballgirl before crashing it high into the sky
He was hit with a game penalty by the chair umpire on his way to losing the final set 6-1
Nishioka soon issued an apology and admitted he had felt that nothing was ‘going in his favour’
‘In the third, when he broke me, I felt like everything was going in his favour and nothing was working on my side. I didn’t play that badly, but the match turned out for him. That’s when the frustration came out.
‘I’ve had incredible support here and in the United States in general. I started this tournament with a good result because I beat Kecmanovic, who is a very good player. Against Hubi, I had played well in our first match, but in the last set, I slipped.
‘I apologise to my fans. I played my best tennis until the end of the second set. I hope to have a little more luck during the US Open.
‘I think my tennis is getting better every day.’