LONDON -- Nick Kyrgios didn't want to sit down at the change of ends when Andy Murray broke him for 2-1 in the third set. He stood around waiting for the inevitable, as if he just wanted to get off Centre Court and back to the locker room -- and he got his wish soon enough.
Murray was expected to win Monday's fourth-round match against Kyrgios given that he was the odds-on favourite to capture his second Wimbledon title, but not in 103 minutes.
"The first set was good. The rest of the match was pretty pathetic," a visibly despondent Kyrgios said in his postmatch news conference.
"I was really comfortable out there the first set. I thought I was playing some really good tennis. I believed that I could win the match. As soon as I lost the first set, I just lost belief. Felt like a mountain to climb."
What was supposed to be the first true test for Murray at these championships became a breeze, as the world No. 2 won 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
After the Scot edged a nip-and-tuck first set, Kyrgios seemed to check out mentally at 2-1 and 15-40 down in the second set, which he surrendered in just 26 minutes.
"What do I do?" was all Kyrgios could say to his team as Murray toyed with him in the third set, tempting him out of his comfort zone and punishing him. The Briton was in his head.
"When things get tough, I'm just a little bit soft," said the Australian. "I've got experience, but it ultimately comes down to just laying it all out there and competing for a long time. I didn't do that today at all."
Kyrgios gave an honest "no" when asked if he was applying himself with all his heart to become the best tennis professional he can be.
How can he go about changing that? "I don't know," he replied. "To be honest, I woke up this morning and played computer games. Is that the greatest preparation? I don't know. But it was fun."
His decision to sit down in the Court 18 stands watching Lleyton Hewitt play doubles just two hours before he was due on Centre Court was also questionable in terms of getting himself ready to face a player of Murray's calibre. Kyrgios, however, disagreed.
"Whether I was in the locker room sitting down or sitting down next to the court I don't think really made a difference," he said.
Centre Court had expected fireworks between two of the great personalities of the game, but they were left with a one-sided encounter as Murray put on a masterful performance and Kyrgios ultimately capitulated.
"[Murray] said sorry," Kyrgios revealed of their conversation at the net after the match. "I said, 'It's OK, just win the tournament, please.' Then we hugged."
Perhaps Kyrgios showed too much respect for his friend Murray -- there was none of the usual feisty attitude that feeds his game, the sparks that he thrives on.
John McEnroe, commentating for the BBC, suggested Kyrgios needs to hire a coach if he is to find his focus and fulfill his potential.
But Kyrgios said: "One week I'm pretty motivated to train and play. I'm really looking forward to getting out there. One week I'll just not do anything. I don't really know a coach out there that would be pretty down for that one.
"I know that I have the talent to do good things. It's just ... yeah."
Murray claimed time was on Kyrgios' side, but the sooner he makes improvements the better it will be for his career.
"It's about finding the right people to help you with different things," Murray said during his new conference. "For some it may be a coach. For some it might be a psychologist. Sometimes it might be speaking to family about stuff.
"There's not one way of tackling it. But if you want to continue to get better, then you speak and listen to as many people as you can, and take on board the things you think will help you."
Kyrgios has admitted in the past that he prefers playing basketball to tennis. It was perhaps telling he looked more passionate giving his opinion on Kevin Durant agreeing to a deal with the Golden State Warriors -- "Disgrace. It's a joke. I'm not watching the NBA" -- than he did on court or answering questions about his match.
"At times I don't love the sport. But I don't really know what else to do without it," he said.