Nick Kyrgios has led the condemnation of an Australian Open reporter who brought Amanda Anisimova to tears with a question about her late father.

A grieving Anisimova's grand slam return ended in tears with the American rising star falling in the first round on Tuesday.

‘FOR YOU’: Kyrgios' beautiful act after win at Australian Open

‘OH MY GOD’: Nick Kyrgios loses it at reporter's bizarre question

The 18-year-old was playing her first major since the shock death of her father and long-time coach Konstantin Anisimov, who suffered a heart attack just before the 2019 US Open.

Anisimova had just announced herself as a contender, upsetting defending champion and world No.3 Simona Halep in the quarter-finals of the French Open.

View photos Amanda Anisimova lost in the first round at the Australian Open. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) More

She then lost to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty in a dramatic final-four showdown, coming from 0-5 to win the first set before the Australian prevailed in a career-defining win.

Earmarked for a big future, Anisimova signed a mega long-term deal with Nike that was reported to be the largest ever for a teenager and comparable to that of former great Maria Sharapova's eight-year, $102 million deal.

Reaching the fourth round at Melbourne Park in 2019, Anisimova's hopes of a repeat this year were dashed with the 21st seed was upset by world No.73 Zarina Diyas of kazakhstan 6-3 4-6 6-3.

Anisimova broke down in a post-match media conference when asked how she was managing in her career without her father.

View photos Amanda Anisimova broke down in tears. Image: Australian Open More

When a reporter asked if she was feeling ‘unsettled’, Anisimova replied: "Do we really have to talk about this so fast after a match", before bursting into tears.

"Things are still pretty tough but I was excited to play in the Australian Open as it's my favourite grand slam," she said after composing herself.

"I have good memories from it."

The reporter’s ‘cruel’ question left many commentators and fans furious, with Kyrgios taking to social media to slam the journo.

“This makes me so mad. Have a heart and please feel, it’s not fair. Keep your head up Amanda,” Kyrgios, who will play mixed doubles with Anisimova, tweeted

This makes me so mad. Have a heart and please feel, it’s not fair. Keep your head up Amanda ❤️🙏🏽 #alwayswatching https://t.co/gaoA8SlOFY — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 21, 2020

PURE PAIN: In context of the heart attack death in August of Amanda Anisimova's dad & coach, an Aussie writer asked the 18-year old, "do you feel unsettled." #Anisimova replied, "do we really have to talk about this so fast after a match" & then sobbed & burst into tears. #Cruel — INSIDE TENNIS (@BillSimons1) January 21, 2020

So insensitive! That journalist should have his/her credentials pulled. There is NO excuse for that question — Bernie (@Bernie8256) January 21, 2020

Can the journalist be barred from press conferences? That was very low and in really bad taste! — RDA (@RDAFreeThinker) January 21, 2020

awful. poor girl. — Nina2017 (@Nina201710) January 21, 2020

Heartless. — Georgina Taylor (@gmtaylor) January 21, 2020

Some of the questions that players are asked in presser are just os insensitive. Amanda deserved better than that. — Vicki Mainard 🇦🇺🕹🏀🐈 Scomo is my PM. (@vmainard) January 21, 2020

As a hopefully future journalist in tennis this kind of question is not something I’d ask. No matter their age but especially when 18yo as your still growing up & dealing with a loss like this at such a young age isn’t easy. — Anthony 🏳️‍🌈 (@the1lackster) January 21, 2020

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