Former world number 13 Nick Kyrgios beat world number 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Halle Open, smashing his racket and arguing with the umpire during the match.

He then proceeded to get into an argument with the chair umpire in the second set and even received a warning for time-wasting.

Kyrgios protested his innocence saying he needed to wipe sweat from his hands.

“He said I was playing too slow. Statistically I’m one of the fastest,” the Australian said.

“I had to walk to the sidelines to get my towel. There is this thing called sweat in 30C heat that runs down on to your hands.

“I needed to wipe my hands and he gave me a warning.”

It is a second successive tournament where Kyrgios has received a penalty for smashing his racket and exchanging words with the crowd after his loss to Andy Murray in Stuttgart last week – Kyrgios later alleged he was racially abused by a spectator.

Yet, it is also a second quarter-final in as many weeks for Kyrgios as he prepares for Wimbledon, having gone on to reach the semi-finals in Stuttgart last week.

Also, the victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas meant the big serving Australian has now recorded three top 10 wins on grass in his career.

Up next he will face Spanish sixth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 

🎾 Free >> Join our legendary newsletter