(VIDEO) “You paid to watch me”: Nick Kyrgios’ fierce response to heckler in Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios had a particular response to a fan in the stands at Melbourne Park after receiving shouts during his doubles match at the Australian Open. The former world No. 13 teamed up with Thanasi Kokkinakis for a new campaign in Melbourne.

However, their participation in the tournament came to an early end. The 2022 Australian Open doubles champions faced fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans, but were defeated 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 [10-4], bringing their Australian campaign to a swift conclusion.

Both players are still trying to recover their physical condition after long injury layoffs. Kyrgios has competed sparingly over the past three seasons, playing only a handful of tournaments, while Kokkinakis missed the entirety of 2025 following pectoral surgery. Both made their returns at the start of this season.

For that reason, they decided not to enter the singles draw and limited themselves to doubles, where they received a wildcard, although it resulted in an early exit. During the match, Kyrgios delivered a moment very much in his trademark style when he responded to shouts from a fan in the Australian Open stands.

In a video that went viral on social media, a spectator can be heard yelling something at Kyrgios, and the Australian did not hesitate to reply with visible irritation. “You fu***** paid to watch me bro, you weirdo,” Kyrgios responded while preparing to receive serve from his opponents.

The point ultimately went to the Kyrgios–Kokkinakis pair and the match resumed normally, although Kyrgios once again left behind one of his characteristic controversial moments both on and off the court.

The former Wimbledon runner-up still has one final challenge ahead in Melbourne, as he will also compete in the mixed doubles draw — forming an intriguing partnership with former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez. Fernandez has solid doubles experience, having reached the Roland Garros final in 2023 alongside Taylor Townsend, as well as finishing runner-up at both the Miami Open and Cincinnati Open.

Kyrgios has endured a complicated return to competition in 2026, but later acknowledged in his press conference that he remains calm about what he has achieved so far this year, despite the modest results. At the Brisbane International a few weeks earlier, he was eliminated in the first round of singles by Alexander Kovacevic, while in doubles he teamed up with Kokkinakis to reach the second round, where they were knocked out by sixth seeds Doumbia/Reboul.

This time in Australia, he once again suffered defeat alongside Kokkinakis, but hopes to put together a strong showing in mixed doubles with Fernandez. “I am tired and have traveled a lot. I haven't actually played any official tournaments. My goal in recent months was to participate in all these events and play some doubles at the Australian Open with Thanasi.”

“To be honest, there is no one else I really want to play with. Tomorrow I have a mixed match. After that, I will reassess my schedule. That's all. I have fulfilled all my goals of the last month and a half. I have done everything I thought I could do. From now on, I don't know what I'm going to do,” said the 30-year-old player.

Mixed doubles will begin on Friday night at the Australian Open, with the Kyrgios–Fernandez pair set to face specialists Neal Skupski and Desirae Krawczyk.