Dawn Fraser apologises for Nick Kyrgios comments

Australian Olympic legend Dawn Fraser has apologised for her racially charged comments made in regards to Nick Kyrgios.

Speaking on Channel 9's Today show, Fraser was quoted as saying that players such as Kyrgios needed to be better role models and "if they don't like it, they should go back to where their fathers, or where their parents came from".

Kyrgios - who is of Greek and Malaysian descent -bowed out of Wimbledon in the fourth round on Monday, with his behaviour called into question after he appeared to give up in one game during the four-set loss to Richard Gasquet.

"I want to unreservedly apologise for any comments that I made this morning which may have caused offense to my fellow Australians including Nick and his family," Fraser said in a statement on Tuesday.

Fraser conceded that, while her comments had been taken out of context, she agreed they were in bad taste.

"However this does not condone what was said," she added.

"My intended message, which was not delivered as articulately as it could have been, was on a purely sporting level rather than meant as an attack on Nick's ethnicity.

"Australians have a rich sporting heritage made up of individuals from a variety of different countries of origin.

"Nick's representing Australia and I want to see him representing Australian tennis in the best possible light."