Banned Kyrgios vows to get help
NICK KYRGIOS was said to be ‘distraught’ after his tanking incident and inflammatory press conference in Shanghai last week, which yesterday led to him being suspended for the rest of the season.
The 21-year-old Australian was fined and banned for eight tournament weeks, reduced to three providing he seeks the help of a vetted sports psychologist.
And, according to a statement by Tennis Australia, he has agreed to do so. Chris Kermode, the Englishman who runs the ATP Tour, said Kyrgios’s contrition was genuine enough for him to receive a sentence that should effectively allow him to start afresh in 2017.
The world No 14 enraged fans with his lack of effort in a 6-3, 6-1 defeat by Mischa Zverev, which saw him pat the ball over the net several times when serving and walk back to his chair before a serve from his German opponent had landed.
As well as the suspension, Kyrgios was given an additional £20,000 fine — taking him to £34,000 in all — for an incident that also saw him berate jeering fans.
‘He was distraught about how he behaved,’ said Kermode yesterday. ‘He is a young athlete with a huge amount of talent for whom the spotlight is sometimes too much.
‘The saddest part is that it comes across that he doesn’t care. But it’s actually a defence mechanism. A lot of it is immaturity, but you learn through experience.
‘We suspended him, but there is also an obligation to try and help the situation.’
Andy Murray (right) has enough on his hands chasing the world No 1 spot, but he has offered to give advice to Kyrgios and has left the door open for the Australian to contact him.
‘I think sometimes players do need protecting,’ said the Scot. ‘Sometimes, he says things he regrets. He needs to be guided a little bit better and I’m sure he will learn from that. ‘I chat to him about all sorts of things, both tennis and basketball. If he ever wanted to talk to me or ask me anything, I would obviously be open to that. You don’t want to see young guys who are in the spotlight struggling and doing things that ultimately hurt them.’ In an official press release, Kyrgios said yesterday: ‘I understand and respect the decision and I will use this time away to improve on and off the court. I am truly sorry and look forward to returning in 2017.’ Kyrgios has put the tour authorities in a difficult spot because he is, by common consent, the most naturally talented of the younger generation of players. His tally of six wins against top-ten players this season is easily the best for someone of his age, and his box office appeal will have contributed to the measured sanction. His tone yesterday was in stark contrast to his conduct at the press conference after last week’s game.
Asked about arguing with spectators, he said: ‘I don’t owe them anything. It’s my choice. If you don’t like it, I didn’t ask you to come and watch. Just leave.
‘You want to buy a ticket? Come watch me. You know I’m unpredictable. It’s your choice. I don’t owe you anything. It doesn’t affect how I sleep at night.’
Meanwhile, Jo Konta may have to wait until the very last minute to find out if she has qualified to play in the WTA Finals in Singapore next week. The British No 1 was bumped up into the eighth and final qualifying position yesterday when Serena Williams withdrew due to injury.
But Konta, who is nursing an abdominal strain, could still be caught in this week’s Kremlin Cup, the last event of the regular WTA season. Svetlana Kuznetsova and Carla Suarez Navarro will demote Konta to the position of on-site alternate if either of them clinch the title in Moscow.
Williams said: ‘I am really bombed that I can’t play. It has been a really, really tough year for me dealing with my shoulder injury.’