The 20-year-old -- who on another occasion also climbed onto a railing at the traditional All England Club to watch a match -- had already been issued a warning for an audible obscenity during his 7-5 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (8-6) fourth-round loss against Richard Gasquet but a game later in the second set appeared to give away two points on the Frenchman's serve.
On one, he didn't make a move towards the ball.
Soon social media was reacting, with some even using the word "tank" -- or not trying. Kyrgios denied he wasn't trying when he was asked -- or grilled -- about the issue in a press conference after his mixed doubles loss with women's singles quarterfinalist Madison Keys.
It was "just frustration," Kyrgios claimed. "I mean, it's tough out there. I don't really know what else to say.
"I'm not perfect out there. I'm going to have ups and downs."
If officials, however, deem that he wasn't giving an adequate amount of effort, he could be fined.
"If they decide to fine me, they can fine me," Kyrgios, looking weighed down by the questioning, said.
Gasquet came to Kyrgios' defense prior to the match and wasn't about to change his tune although he did concede his opponent made things easier for him.
"Sometime it happens," said Gasquet. "He's not the only one (who) did it. Even the best player in the world did it in the past.
"It's true, he give me a little bit this set. But I knew actually it wouldn't be the same in the third and fourth. He played much better. He's a fighter. After that he fought a lot."
Kyrgios probably opened himself up to more criticism when he said pal and fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic -- who faced accusations of tanking himself at the 2012 U.S. Open -- shouldn't have been suspended for Australia's Davis Cup quarterfinal against Kazakhstan on grass the week after Wimbledon.