‘Stop this or something major will happen’ – Rafael Nadal demands ATP punishments
Rafael Nadal has called on the tennis authorities to clamp down on racket smashes after an incident involving Nick Kyrgios at Indian Wells.
Nadal was able to overcome Kyrgios in the quarter-finals despite the Australian serving for the first set.
It was a result that maintained Nadal’s perfect start to the season but Kyrgios was clearly frustrated after the match.
Following the handshake, Kyrgios slammed his racket onto the ground with it bouncing up and narrowing missing a ball boy.
Fortunately it missed him, but Nadal, who has never smashed a racket in his professional career, wants punishments now to avoid injuries in the future.
That came really close! pic.twitter.com/8Bg4fJYLQG
— Billy Bang (@villievang) March 18, 2022
“These situations are happening more and more often. The ATP should put a stop to this. Otherwise sooner or later something major will happen.”
Nadal has often been vocal about racket smashes, saying in 2021: “There are kids who would love to have a tennis racquet, so I will never break a racket.
“If I lose, it’s my fault. Not my racket’s.”
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