Serena baffled by Kyrgios fan stunt

06 July 2015 03:17

Serena Williams has called on tennis fans to justify coating faces in chocolate and various spreads in support of firebrand Australian star Nick Kyrgios.

Kyrgios supporter Mitchell McConachy contacted the box-office tennis star from Canberra on Facebook, saying: "If you reply to this I'll cover my face in Vegemite."

A reply from his tennis idol led McConachy to smear the edible spread on his face and post the picture.

Other fans followed suit, some with chocolate spread, raising questions as to whether the light-hearted stunt is racist, given Kyrgios' Greek and Asian heritage.

Fresh from defeating sister Venus to reach her 11th Wimbledon quarter-final, Serena Williams attempted to stay out of the debate - only to concede she would be keen to discover why fans considered covering faces with coloured spread appropriate.

"Oh, gosh, I never, I don't know. I don't even want to talk about that. I don't care. Really? I didn't know that," said Serena Williams.

"I think you're better asking the fans that question.

"Maybe they can give you some insight. And let me know, I'd be interested to know."

Source: PA