Tennis star throws extraordinary tantrum after controversial loss

Pablo Carreno Busta has absolutely snapped at the Australian Open after his five-hour epic against Kei Nishikori ended in controversy.

The Spaniard refused to shake the umpire’s hand before screaming at him and storming off the court on Monday night.

Nishikori trailed by two sets and a break but fought back magnificently to claim a marathon 6-7 (8-10) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 7-6 (10-8) victory on Margaret Court Arena.

But his win was overshadowed by his opponent’s tantrum.

Up 8-5 in the first-to-10 points deciding tiebreaker, Carreno Busta raged at the chair umpire after Nishikori was awarded a point – hitting a winner off a ball initially called out – that the Spaniard was adamant should have been replayed.

Carreno Busta believed the incorrect call came before Nishikori hit the winner, which would require the point to be played again.

But the official was unmoved and Nishikori won the next four points, firing off an ace to claim victory and equal his best Australian Open result.

Carreno Busta shook hands with Nishikori but refused to do the same with the umpire, before hurling his bag across the court and again screaming at the umpire before departing to scattered boos.

He then continued his rampage up the tunnel and into the locker room.

“He is not showing his true character,” John Fitzgerald said in commentary.

“He can hold his head high. He just lost it a little bit at the end. You have to admire both players. Two warriors.

“I’m speechless. It didn’t deserve that little bit of twist at the end. Let’s not let that take away from the spectacle we just saw.”

Many pundits were of the opinion that Carreno Busta was right to be filthy with the call.

The Spaniard was close to tears as he apologised after the match.

“The way I left the court was not right, and I’m so sorry, because that’s not me,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“I am very sad because after five hours of fighting the way that I leave from the court wasn’t correct.

“I think that the referee missed. And when I tried to leave as fast as possible, I lost the head. It’s tough for me to leave the Australian Open like this because I thought I played really well. It’s tough to leave like this.”

It is the third five-set match Nishikori has been forced to endure for the tournament, taking his time on court to almost 14 hours.

“I don’t know what to say now. Very tough match,” he said.

“Of course I was disappointed to lose the first and second sets but I tried to be positive. I just need to recover well. I’ve been playing really good tennis so I’ll try to be fresh for the next match and hope I can have one more good week.”

with AAP