SYDNEY — Nick Kyrgios has been stunned by the ferocity of criticism leveled at him over his behavior at Wimbledon and has called on his fellow Australians to show him respect even if they cannot love him.
The 20-year-old said he had contemplated walking away from the game he admits he does not "love" after being hammered in the media, both traditional and social, in the wake of his fourth round loss to Richard Gasguet at the All England Club.
Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser apologized on Tuesday for saying Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic should "go back to where their parents came from" if they did not behave properly on court but that has not stemmed the flood of vitriol.