By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 17, 2016
The ATP announced Nick Kyrgios has been suspended for the rest of the season and fined an additional $25,000 for "conduct contrary to the integrity of the game."
Photo credit: Shanghai Rolex Masters
Nick Kyrgios stepped over the sportsmanship line in Shanghai last week.
Now, Kyrgios has been kicked off the ATP Tour for the rest of the season after his bizarre tanking meltdown in a 6-3, 6-1, loss to 110th-ranked qualifier Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
Watch: Murray Wins Shanghai, Moves Closer to Top Spot
The ATP announced Kyrgios has been suspended for the rest of the season and fined an additional $25,000 for "conduct contrary to the integrity of the game."
The 14th-ranked Australian was hit with an eight-week suspension. If he serves the full suspension, Kyrgios will be eligible to return to tournament tennis on January 15th, the day before the 2017 Australian Open begins.
The ATP will shorten Kyrgios' suspension to three weeks if he enters "a plan of care under the direction of a sports psychologist or an equivalent plan approved by the ATP."
If Kyrgios completes care with a sports psychologist, he will be eligible to retun on November 7th though his season is effectively over. The BNP Paribas Masters in Paris concludes on November 6th.
The explosive Kyrgios was in contention for the final spot of the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals, which begin November 13th in London. The season-ending suspension ends Kyrgios' quest to qualify for London.
“Following the completion of its investigation into Nick Kyrgios’ second round match last week at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the ATP has announced that Kyrgios has been found to have committed the player major offense Conduct Contrary to the Integrity of the Game,” the ATP said in a statement. "The offense means that Kyrgios receives an additional fine of $25,000, and is suspended from ATP tournaments for eight tournament weeks, effective from today, Monday 17 October, 2016, through to Sunday 15 January, 2017.
“However, the suspension will be reduced to three tournament weeks upon agreement that the player enters a plan of care under the direction of a Sports Psychologist, or an equivalent plan approved by ATP, meaning Kyrgios could regain eligibility to compete on the ATP World Tour or Challenger Tour from Monday 7 November, 2016."
Tennis Australia said in a statement it supports Kyrgios' decision to seek help.
"Nick’s health and well being is a priority and the ATP has offered a reduced penalty on the provision that he seeks appropriate professional advice, which he has agreed to do," Tennis Australia said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Tennis Australia told AFP that since Kyrgios will undergo treatment with a sports psychologist, he will be eligible to play the Hopman Cup exhibition in January. Kyrgios and partner Daria Gavrilova are scheduled to defend their 2016 Hopman Cup championship for Australia in Perth.
"We have spoken to his management and Nick has agreed to seek the help of a sports psychologist and will now be available to play in the Hopman Cup in early January," a Tennis Australia spokesperson told AFP.
The 21-year-old Kyrgios said in a statement released today there is "no excuse" for his behavior, adding "I know very well that I need to apologize."
"Following the ATP’s decision today I would like to take this opportunity to apologize again for the circumstances in Shanghai,” Kyrgios said. “The season has been a long one as I battled several injuries and other challenges towards the end of the summer. The Asian circuit was particularly tough after the long week and win in Tokyo and with the travel throughout the continent, my body finally just gave out in Shanghai both physically and mentally.
“This is no excuse, and I know very well that I need to apologize to the fans — in Shanghai and in other parts of the world — as well as the tournament organisers in Shanghai who do an amazing job.
“I of course know how important the fans are to the success of our sport and I personally love the interaction with fans in the many different cities throughout the world on the tennis circuit. I am someone who gives a huge amount of time to my fans because I love and value their support.
“Their energy is what motivates me to reach for the top of the game. I regret that my year is ending this way and that I will not have a chance to continue chasing the ATP Finals. This was an important goal for me. I do understand and respect the decision by the ATP and I will use this time off to improve on and off the court. I am truly sorry and look forward to returning in 2017.”
Initially, Kyrgios incurred a $16,500 fine for violating the ATP Code of Conduct in a pitiful performance in Shanghai that lasted just 48 minutes. Kyrgios was hit with the maximum $10,000 for "lack of best efforts," $5,000 for verbal abuse of a spectator and $1,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Kyrgios feuded with a heckler and chair umpire Ali Nili, who urged the Aussie to play professionally after Kyrgios tapped a soft serve like an amateur into the box when he was broken for 4-1 in the opening set.
Kyrgios dropped all five break points he faced, did not move for some shots and blasted fans afterward saying "if you don't like it... just leave."
"I'm good at hitting a tennis ball at the net. Like, big deal," Kyrgios said afterward. "I don't owe them anything. It's like it's my choice.
"If you don't like it, I didn't ask you to come watch. Just leave. If you're so good at giving advice and so good at tennis, why aren't you as good as me? Why aren't you on the tour?"
Kyrgios, who was hit with an audible obscenity warning by Nili, argued with a fan as Zverev was ready to serve for the match.
"You wanna come here and play? Sit down and shut up and watch," Kyrgios barked at the fan.
Kyrgios, who won his third title of the season in Tokyo days before his Shanghai implosion, is the first man to be suspended for bad behavior since John McEnroe in 1987.