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Nick Kyrgios Is The Second Aussie This Week To Abuse The Word 'Retard'

When will the young guns of Australia learn?
Nick Kyrgios has found himself in trouble again for calling his supporters 'retarded'.
AFP/Getty Images
Nick Kyrgios has found himself in trouble again for calling his supporters 'retarded'.

In the current world of tennis, it seems Nick Kyrgios and the word 'controversy' are one and the same, and his performance in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday was no different in showing the world that the young guns in the Aussie squad still haven't learned their lesson.

After a tight match against World number 21 Feliciano López, Kyrgios decided to describe his entourage -- which included his father -- as being 'retarded' for not being vocal enough in supporting him.

The comments were picked up on courtside microphones and come days after fellow Australian team mate Bernard Tomic faced criticism for use of the same term in a post-match press conference.

The Australian World number 18 apologised for the comment, saying it came as part of the 'battle' of the match and was not intended to be hurtful, according to the Herald Sun.

"I know some people can obviously get offended by that. I'm not meaning to be rude or disrespectful at all. Sometimes I'm just a pest.

"It's obviously in the heat of the battle. Everything I say and everything I do out there, they [his supporters] all know I love them. So it's okay."

One game earlier, Kyrgios received his third code violation in as many matches from chair umpire Pascal Maria for hitting a ball away in anger after López took a 4-2 lead, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The match was postponed after two sets due to poor lighting, however Kyrgios managed to progress on Sunday after beating Lopez 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-4.

Kyrgios will join Tomic in moving on to the fourth round of Wimbledon and will face World number two, British Andy Murray, on Monday.

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