She apologized after being labeled a “blatant racist” by Kyrgios for saying the two Australians should “go back to where their parents came from”.
Advertisement
And when he blurted out that “I might as well just leave now”, it signalled one of the volatile Kyrgios’s infamous mood swings, with Gasquet quick to punish the Australian’s lack of focus.
But before she released that statement she told Fairfax Media that her comments weren’t actually racist. She does reflect a generational view. This time, though, she was more Hansonist and frankly more frightening.
In addition to the criticism of his behaviour, Kyrgios has also been distracted by the illness of his grandfather, who has cancer, and the public spat between Tomic and Tennis Australia, which led to his friend being dropped from the Davis Cup team.
“I am so shocked to think that he [Kyrgios] went out there to play and he tanked … he did all that tanking, it’s awful”.
Tomic was born in Germany to Yugoslav parents.
The third set saw Kyrgios and Keothavong – brother of former British number one Anne Keothavong – engage in a freaky exchange over the Australian adjusting his kit.
He was born in Australia to a Greek father and a Malaysian mother.
“I have no comments on Dawn Frasers nasty racist attack…but she is out of line”.
Kyrgios has extraordinary natural talent. But he’s also only 20 and has a big personality. “I don’t think people always appreciate how hard it is to grow up under the spotlight”, the Scot said.
Tennis Australia have had a hugely poor record in dealing with players (and the families of players) that have be brought up in traditional eastern and eastern European cultures, particularly with Jelena Dokic and to a less of an extent with Mark Philippoussis.
Until now, all he needed to fight against was his own flamboyance. If a swimming legend can play the race card to criticise the young Kyrgios for his “arrogance”, his “sense of entitlement” (or was that German-born Bernard Tomic?) or “petulance”, anyone can: Kyrgios is like he is because he’s not one of us and if he doesn’t want to be like us, he should go back to where his parents came from.
Fraser was asked a question by Australian TV presenter Karl Stefanovic, who himself became embroiled in a racism row in March this year when he made racially motivated comments to Indian cricket fans during the series between Australia and India.
Temperamental Australian crashes out, denies Wimbledon “tanking”. Personally, I was rattled.
“I just know hanging in is key, obviously coming down from two sets to love a year ago”.
Now, though, we have a new fear with which to buttress and justify racism.
Advertisement
“Contrary to what the likes of Dawn Fraser might say, most Australians do not tell migrants and their children to go back to where they came from”, he said. In extreme cases, it no doubt is.
