Nick Kyrgios has made an explosive exit from the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, clashing with the chair umpire before succumbing in the fourth round to Borna Coric.
Both players received code violations for racquet abuse as Coric recovered from a set down to advance to the quarter-finals with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 win.
But the Croatian’s victory was overshadowed by Kyrgios’s antics.
The temperamental Australian approached the chair umpire to sarcastically congratulate his controlling of the match after being docked a point penalty while down game point serving at 2-4 in the deciding set.
Having already been warned for his behaviour, Kyrgios was sanctioned for saying “fuck you man” to a spectator in the stands.
With the match all but lost, Kyrgios attempted to shake the official’s hand at the ensuing changeover before continuing to berate the umpire during the sit-down.
“Really good job. Well done,” he said.
“You’ve controlled the environment really, really well.”
Kyrgios’s earlier complaints about crowd disturbances had fallen on deaf ears.
Coric, the tournament’s 11th seed, next plays Canadian teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the semi-finals.
Auger-Aliassime is the first qualifier to reach the quarter-finals in 12 years after taking out 17th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
Defending champion John Isner also advanced with a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) win over Brit Kyle Edmund.
Eyeing his best-ever result on tour, Kyrgios’s fellow Australian Jordan Thompson is on court against South African sixth seed Kevin Anderson.