Nick Kyrgios succumbed to an unexpected loss against Andy Murray at the 2022 Stuttgart Open, falling 7-6(5), 6-2 to him in the semifinals. The Australian was looking good at the start of the match, but came apart at the seams after losing the first set in a tight tie-break.The 27-year-old took out his frustrations with a huge racquet smash, leading to a point penalty. Murray went on to break his serve soon after, prompting further unsportsmanlike conduct from the former World No. 13, which resulted in a game penalty being awarded to the Australian.Following the loss, Kyrgios took to Instagram to reveal that he was racially abused by the crowd, pointing to it as the main reason why he lost his cool during the encounter. Although he admitted that he could have dealt with it better, the mercurial 27-year-old was of the opinion that such abuse was not at all acceptable.José Morgado@josemorgadoNick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today.1233118Nick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today. https://t.co/hdBktmz6YqTennis fans, who had taken to social media earlier to criticize Kyrgios for his actions during the match, also extended their sympathy to him in light of the recent revelation.As much as they conceded that the Australian deserved to be condemned for his on-court antics, they did not think it was fair to subject him to such discrimination. Some Twitter users still blamed Kyrgios, stating that he should learn to take more responsibility for himself instead of always blaming others for his actions.A few other fans did not agree with the racial abuse angle at all, remarking that the phrase the Australian mentioned - "black sheep" - had no racist connotations and that Nick Kyrgios had simply misunderstood what they were yelling at him."Cool to see we're still tone policing people's responses to racism," one fan sarcastically wrote. "I don't care what people think of Nick Kyrgios, disliking him doesn't make what he experienced okay."Jess@gerritimecool to see we're still tone policing people's responses to racism. I don't care what people think of nick kyrgios, disliking him doesn't make what he experienced okay. twitter.com/ReemAbulleil/s…Reem Abulleil@ReemAbulleilCouldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out.239Couldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out. https://t.co/y1qzQFbWAYcool to see we're still tone policing people's responses to racism. I don't care what people think of nick kyrgios, disliking him doesn't make what he experienced okay. twitter.com/ReemAbulleil/s…Z Tromp@ztromp67I don't like Nick, but this is unacceptable behaviour from fans. I'm against any form of discrimation. This is not the way to address anyone even if they are annoying. It's not the 1st time a player of colour has to go through this. #StopDiscrimationinanyform twitter.com/ReemAbulleil/s…Reem Abulleil@ReemAbulleilCouldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out.34839Couldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out. https://t.co/y1qzQFbWAYI don't like Nick, but this is unacceptable behaviour from fans. I'm against any form of discrimation. This is not the way to address anyone even if they are annoying. It's not the 1st time a player of colour has to go through this. #StopDiscrimationinanyform twitter.com/ReemAbulleil/s…J⬛️⬛️ ⚖️ ☮@Anthr0p0m0rphI’m relatively pacifistic, but if a spectator near me yelled this, I’d get outta my chair and emasculate him/her. Why aren’t tennis fans leading the response with just one decent beat down?! twitter.com/reemabulleil/s…Reem Abulleil@ReemAbulleilCouldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out.34839Couldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out. https://t.co/y1qzQFbWAYI’m relatively pacifistic, but if a spectator near me yelled this, I’d get outta my chair and emasculate him/her. Why aren’t tennis 🎾 fans leading the response with just one decent beat down?! twitter.com/reemabulleil/s…"Man that's messed up. There needs to be more accountability for things like this. Players can't be expected to stay calm and not react when they're being racially abused and the people in charge of the tournaments do nothing!" another user posted.Vanessa⁴⁴@VannyQ1Man that's messed up. There needs to be more accountability for things like this. Players can't be expected to stay calm and not react when they're being racially abused and the people in charge of the tournaments do nothing! twitter.com/ReemAbulleil/s…Reem Abulleil@ReemAbulleilCouldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out.139Couldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out. https://t.co/y1qzQFbWAYMan that's messed up. There needs to be more accountability for things like this. Players can't be expected to stay calm and not react when they're being racially abused and the people in charge of the tournaments do nothing! twitter.com/ReemAbulleil/s…Alberto F. Mendez Campioni d’Italia 🇮🇹🔴⚫️@FanjonAlbertoWill the ATP condemn this? Or are we just gonna let it go because it’s Kyrgios? 🤔 twitter.com/reemabulleil/s…Reem Abulleil@ReemAbulleilCouldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out.138Couldn’t hear what was being said on court earlier but Kyrgios just clarified on his social media that he was responding to a racial slur yelled at him from the crowd. I hope the fan was kicked out. https://t.co/y1qzQFbWAYWill the ATP condemn this? Or are we just gonna let it go because it’s Kyrgios? 🤔 twitter.com/reemabulleil/s…V@cricslutComment under this post are sickening, tennis fans are the most racist bunch of out there. Absolutely no hope for players of color. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoNick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today.1224117Nick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today. https://t.co/hdBktmz6YqComment under this post are sickening, tennis fans are the most racist bunch of out there. Absolutely no hope for players of color. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…"This just in: Nick Krygios blames everyone but himself for his tennis etiquette. You didn’t hear anything but you losing the tie break and you melted down," one account tweeted.RD@RDTweets10This just in: Nick Krygios blames everyone but himself for his tennis etiquette. You didn’t hear anything but you losing the tie break and you melted down twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoNick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today.1225117Nick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today. https://t.co/hdBktmz6YqThis just in: Nick Krygios blames everyone but himself for his tennis etiquette. You didn’t hear anything but you losing the tie break and you melted down twitter.com/josemorgado/st…Alois@aloyc_One thing about Nick is no amount of negativity will shut him up he will always stand up for himself. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoNick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today.1224117Nick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today. https://t.co/hdBktmz6YqOne thing about Nick is no amount of negativity will shut him up he will always stand up for himself. twitter.com/josemorgado/st…22 (RAFA’S VERSION) 🇺🇦🧣@filmtaylorI’m no Kyrgios fan but the amount of people excusing racist behaviour in the comments is sickening twitter.com/josemorgado/st…José Morgado@josemorgadoNick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today.1225117Nick Kyrgios says he heard racial slurs from the Stuttgart crowd earlier today. https://t.co/hdBktmz6YqI’m no Kyrgios fan but the amount of people excusing racist behaviour in the comments is sickening twitter.com/josemorgado/st…"Of course it is. Just because it contains black doesn't mean it's racial. Meaning was [Nick Kyrgios] is outcast of tennis, nothing to do with race. Unless someone wanted to use it as double meaning but I doubt it," another fan wrote.Gerda Pardiac@GerdaPardiac@hffjrjr @josemorgado Of course it is. Just bc it contains black doesn't mean it's racial. Meaning was he is outcast of tennis, nothing to do with race. Unless someone wanted to use it as double meaning but I doubt it.35@hffjrjr @josemorgado Of course it is. Just bc it contains black doesn't mean it's racial. Meaning was he is outcast of tennis, nothing to do with race. Unless someone wanted to use it as double meaning but I doubt it.Sidney@Sidney52@ReemAbulleil I wonder if it happened when he got the game penalty? He interacted with the crowd angrily saying “what did you say?” repeatedly. Something must have been said. If what he claims is true then I am shocked he stayed that composed.8@ReemAbulleil I wonder if it happened when he got the game penalty? He interacted with the crowd angrily saying “what did you say?” repeatedly. Something must have been said. If what he claims is true then I am shocked he stayed that composed.what's the craic?@whatsthecraic1@ThenIdBeClever @ReemAbulleil Normally I would agree but seriously being racially a used is not fun and he has every right to react. Maybe he should have spoken to the umpire but then again if someone racially abused me I'd have reacted the same way341@ThenIdBeClever @ReemAbulleil Normally I would agree but seriously being racially a used is not fun and he has every right to react. Maybe he should have spoken to the umpire but then again if someone racially abused me I'd have reacted the same wayBrandneway@_Brandneway@josemorgado How is being called a black sheep a "racial slur"? Is it? Isn't it a common expression to characterize someone that is different? I never thought this Express was considered as a racial slur...58@josemorgado How is being called a black sheep a "racial slur"? Is it? Isn't it a common expression to characterize someone that is different? I never thought this Express was considered as a racial slur...Nick Kyrgios will play in the Halle Open before he goes on to the Wimbledon ChampionshipsNick Kyrgios takes on Daniel Altmaier in his opener at the 2022 Halle OpenFollowing his loss at the hands of Andy Murray at the Stuttgart Open, Nick Kyrgios will turn his attention next to the Halle Open before moving on to Wimbledon at the end of the month. The Australian is slated to take on Daniel Altmaier in the first round, their first ever meeting on the ATP tour.A win against the German would pit the 27-year-old against either second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Benjamin Bonzi in the second round. A potential meeting with fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime awaits Kyrgios in the semifinals, while he could likely take on top seed Daniil Medvedev in the final if he gets that far.