Players pay respects to Kobe Bryant at Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios wore a Lakers No. 8 jersey to honor Kobe Bryant ahead of a fourth-round match against Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.

The 15-year-old Coco Gauff had Bryant's numbers 8 and 24, along with the inscription "Mamba Mentality," on her shoes in a doubles match at Melbourne Park.

Bryant's sudden death in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on Sunday along with eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, has shocked and upset fans and athletes around the world.

Kyrgios, a big NBA fan who often wears basketball jerseys while practicing, wore a Bryant jersey from the locker room, through the corridor of champions, and into the warm-up on Rod Laver Arena. He took it off before play began against top-ranked Nadal.

Fans in the crowd wore Bryant jerseys with the numbers 8 or 24. Australian Open organizers also played a short video tribute to Bryant ahead of the match, one of the most anticipated encounters in the two-week, season-opening major.

Darren Cahill, who coaches two-time major winner Simona Halep and works as television analyst for ESPN, said he "felt sick" when he woke up to news of Bryant's death.

"Certainly I looked up to what he used to do as an athlete, as a professional, an incredible basketball player," Cahill said.

"And especially his daughter passing away, as well. I couldn't think of anything worse. My two kids are here. They are 18 and 15. I could not get my head around that."
"A terrible day for sport. He's one of the great, great champions."