ATP adds suspension to Kyrgios’ tanking penalty
LONDON— Nick Kyrgios will miss the rest of the tennis season after being suspended by the men’s tour and fined an additional $25,000 for “tanking” a recent match and insulting fans, in the mercurial Australian’s latest blow-up.
The ATP said Kyrgios was sanctioned for “conduct contrary to the integrity of the game” following an investigation into his behaviour during a second-round loss to German qualifier Mischa Zverev last week at the Shanghai Masters. Kyrgios gave little effort during the 6-3, 6-1 defeat, including tapping easy serves over the net and turning away before his opponent’s serve had crossed the net.
The 21-year-old Australian had already been fined a total of $16,500 for failing to give a full effort, unsportsmanlike conduct and verbal abuse of a spectator.
The ATP said Monday that in addition to the extra $25,000 fine, Kyrgios was handed an eight-week suspension lasting through Jan. 15 — a day before the start of the Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam tournament. However, the tour added the suspension would be reduced to three weeks if Kyrgios agrees to enter “a plan of care under the direction of a sports psychologist or an equivalent plan approved by the ATP.” That means he would be eligible to return on Nov. 7.
There are no regular tournaments on the schedule after Nov. 7. The only event in November is the ATP finals in London from Nov. 13 to 20. The 12th-ranked Kyrgios has not qualified for the eight-player event.
Kyrgios issued a statement Monday offering another apology for his conduct in Shanghai, saying he will be back in 2017. He did not say whether he would enter the treatment pro- gram mandated by the ATP.
Kyrgios’ outburst in Shanghai came only days after he had won his third title of the season in Tokyo.
During the match, Kyrgios was cautioned by the chair umpire about his conduct and booed and jeered by the crowd. He responded angrily to the taunt of a fan by shouting, “You want to come here and play?”
In a post-match interview, Kyrgios said he didn’t care about the crowd reaction because he didn’t owe them anything.
It’s not the first time that Kyrgios has run into trouble. Last year, he insulted Stan Wawrinka with crude remarks during a match in Montreal. He received $12,500 in fines as well as a suspended 28-day ban.