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The now-infamous Wimbledon spectator who Nick Kyrgios claimed was “drunk out of her mind” during the highly-anticipated final against Novak Djokovic has defended herself after being temporarily ejected from Centre Court.
Kyrgios fell agonisingly short of securing a maiden grand slam singles title, suffering a 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 defeat to Serbian superstar Djokovic, who claimed his 21st major trophy.
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The 27-year-old Australian was up to his usual antics in the final, repeatedly screaming at his support team and arguing with the chair umpire.
But one outburst in the third set caught the attention of tennis pundits, with Kyrgios calling for a “drunk” spectator in the front row to be kicked out of the venue after yelling twice between his first and second serves.
“She’s distracting me when I’m serving in a Wimbledon final,” he fumed at the umpire.
“There’s no other bigger occasion, you didn’t believe me and then she did it again. It nearly cost me the game.
“Why is she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind and speaking to me in the middle of a game. What’s acceptable?’
“Kick her out. I know exactly which one it is. The one in the dress, who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks bro.”
The culprit was later revealed to be 32-year-old Ania Palus, who was given water and allowed back into the match after a 15-minute spell outside.
However, Kyrgios’ estimate was apparently off by 698 beverages, with Palus asserting she had only consumed two drinks — a Pimms and a rose.
“I wanted to show we were there for him, I wanted to encourage him,” she told The Sun.
Palus later told The Telegraph: “I wanted to give him support. Maybe I took it too far … but I only had good intentions.
“It’s the temperature for me, I had no hat. I’m really sorry.”
Kyrgios was asked about the rowdy spectator in his post-match press conference, claiming she was repeatedly speaking to him between points.
“That’s when you’ve maybe got to give her a water or take her out,” he said
A reporter asked: “You might find this interesting but since she’s said that she had two drinks and she was actually rooting for you from the start. What do you make of that?”
A gobsmacked Kyrgios replied: “That doesn’t make it OK to start talking to Nick Kyrgios, who’s playing a final of Wimbledon, middle of the point. Why are you trying to make that OK? What?”
During the Wimbledon final, Kyrgios repeatedly shouted at his entourage in the stands, complaining about their apparent lack of support.
“Do you f***ing care at all?” he yelled, with eight-year-old Prince George watching on.
Kyrgios was later fined $5800 for an “audible obscenity”.
Asked in the post-match press conference whether he needed to improve his composure, he responded: “I think the other 126 players in the draw could improve their composure.”
With The Sun
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