Nick Kyrgios says he has been “shocked” at the level of criticism he has received following his Wimbledon exit.

The 20-year-old Australian was accused of not trying in parts of his

fourth round loss to Richard Gasquet.

“I’ve read a whole lot. Comments like ‘he shouldn’t be representing Australia’, ‘he’s a disgrace’. It’s tough to read. I’m human,” he said.

“I don’t really want them to love me. I don’t want their love, but everyone deserves respect.”

And he added: “I’m just shocked with what’s happened. I’m just really shocked on how people have responded and reacted and what they’ve said. I’m really shocked.”

Australia have not had a men’s major winner since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002 and world number 29 Kyrgios and 22-year-old Bernard Tomic, who is 26 in the men’s rankings, are their best chances at ending that drought.

But Kyrgios has been criticised for his behaviour, while

Tomic accused Tennis Australia

of abandoning him after he had hip surgery last year and will not be chosen for his country’s Davis Cup tie against Kazakhstan in Darwin later this month.

Australian Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser said the pair should

“go back to where their parents came from”

if they did not behave properly on court before apologising for her comments.

Kyrgios, who has a Greek father and Malaysian mother, called Fraser a “blatant racist”.

“It’s been tough for me waking up everyday with negative messages,” Kyrgios told Fairfax Media.

“People don’t really know what goes on in my life. I’ve read a lot of what’s been said about me.”

Kyrgios’s grandfather is battling illness and the row between his friend Tomic and Tennis Australia is also a distraction.

“At times I feel lost. I’m questioning what I should do out there and that’s a bad thing,” he said.

“I’m a guy that’s always played on instinct on the tennis court. That’s how I should be.”