Wimbledon 2015: Nick Kyrgios calls Dawn Fraser a 'blatant racist'

Nick Kyrgios says Australian Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser is a "blatant racist" after she said players should "go back to where their parents came from" if they cannot behave.

Australian Kyrgios, who has a Greek father and Malaysian mother, appeared to stop trying during his defeat by Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon.

The 20-year-old was also given a code violation for bad language.

Fraser later "unreservedly" apologised for her comments., external

In her initial interview on Australian television, Fraser, who won the 100m freestyle at three successive Olympic Games from 1956 to 1964, said: "It's absolutely disgusting.

"I am so shocked to think that he went out there to play and he tanked, he did all that tanking, that's terrible."

The 77-year-old was also discussing fellow Australian Bernard Tomic, who was born in Germany and has a Croatian father and Bosnian mother, during her interview.

Tomic, 22, accused Tennis Australia of abandoning him after he had hip surgery last year and will not be chosen for his country's Davis Cup tie against Kazakhstan in Darwin later this month.

Fraser added: "They should be setting a better example for the younger generation of this country, a great country of ours.

"If they don't like it, go back to where their fathers or their parents came from. We don't need them here in this country if they act like that."

Kyrgios was beaten 7-5 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (8-6) by Gasquet and was booed when he appeared to stop trying in the second set after being given a code violation for bad language.

He repeatedly clashed with British umpire James Keothavong, including an altercation over how long the 26th seed was taking to change his socks between games.

Kyrgios linked to Fraser's interview on his Facebook page, external and responded: "Throwing a racket, brat. Debating the rules, disrespectful. Frustrated when competing, spoilt. Showing emotion, arrogant. Blatant racist, Australian legend."

Fraser denied her comments were racist before later issuing an apology.

"Australians have a rich sporting heritage made up of individuals from a variety of different countries of origin," she said.

"My intended message, which was not delivered as articulately as it could have been, was on a purely sporting level rather than meant as an attack on Nick's ethnicity.

"Nick's representing Australia and I want to see him representing Australian tennis in the best possible light. "

In his post-match news conference, Kyrgios clashed with journalists and denied that he stopped trying in the second set.

"Do you want to try and return Richard Gasquet's serve?" he said.

"I'll give you the racquet and we'll see how many times you can return his serve also. He served too good."

He added: "Of course I tried. He hits a serve past me as an ace, that's too good. I did move."

BBC Sport pundit John McEnroe was famed for his temper during his playing career but believes the 'tanking' incident was "completely unprofessional".

"The pressure got to him," McEnroe told Wimbledon 2Day. "A lot of this is overblown, but you can't condone what he did.

"I'm a big defender of Nick Kyrgios, I think he's going to be a great player and he's going to learn. He should have admitted he tapped out and lost it for that period of time.

"He's going to wish he didn't do it and realise he made an ass out of himself."

He added: "I believe he should be himself, he's the kind of fresh face we need plus he can play."

British number one and 2013 Wimbledon winner Andy Murray had some sympathy for the pressure Kyrgios is under.

"I don't think people always appreciate how difficult it is to grow up under the spotlight, how difficult it is to have loads of people expecting you to be perfect from a young age," said Murray.

"I like Nick. I've spoken to him away from the court. He's quite different to how he is on it."