Nick Kyrgios swears at Wimbledon umpire after doubles loss

Nick Kyrgios made a contentious return to Wimbledon on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, swearing at a chair umpire during a first-round doubles defeat and declaring he was ready to accept any resulting fine. The Australian, partnering with Alexander Bublik, lost to the sixth-seeded pair of Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-3, -4 in a 55-minute match on Court 17.

The incident occurred after Kyrgios was broken at the start of the second set. As he sat down during the changeover, he engaged in a heated exchange with French umpire Manuel Absolu. Kyrgios was heard saying, "Honestly, at this point you can fine me, I honestly don't even care," and added, "Honestly you can fine me, I don't give a s---. All these rules are so dumb anyway." According to one report, the umpire had intervened to remind the players that they were expected to change ends promptly after the first game of a set.

The outburst puts Kyrgios at risk of a substantial fine. Grand Slam rules state that players shall not use audible obscenity on the tournament site, with violations subject to fines of up to $50,000. A separate code requiring sportsmanlike conduct carries a potential fine of up to $100,000 per violation.