Shanghai antics get Kyrgios in fine mess
NICK KYRGIOS has been stripped of his first-round prize money and fined an additional £7500 after his controversial Shanghai Masters retirement.
The Australian left opponent Steve Johnson and umpire Fergus Murphy baffled when he shook hands and walked off court after losing the first set on a tie-break on Tuesday.
Kyrgios had become unhappy with Murphy and, after being given a point penalty for an audible obscenity during the tie-break, was heard to say he’d quit if he lost the first set.
The 22-year-old later blamed a stomach bug but did not seek medical help on court and then went against ATP Tour rules by not having a medical check following his retirement.
That has resulted in him losing the £16,000 he would have earned in prize money.
The point penalty followed an earlier warning for smashing two balls angrily out of court, for which Kyrgios has been fined £7500 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
On Twitter Kyrgios wrote: “I want to apologise to the fans in Shanghai and those that watched around the world on TV today.
“I’ve been battling a stomach bug for the last 24 hours and I tried to be ready but I was really struggling.
“My shoulder started to hurt in the practice and once I lost the first set I was not strong enough to continue.”
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal continued his winning run while Roger Federer returned to action with a victory in Shanghai.
Federer took on Diego Schwartzman in his first match since losing to Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals of the US Open just over a month ago.
The world No.2 ground out a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory.
Nadal thumped American Jared Donaldson 6-2 6-1.