By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 31, 2022
Nick Kyrgios’ work isn’t quite complete at the Miami Open – he will play the doubles semifinals with partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, against John Inser and Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday evening – but the Aussie has already racked up significant fines.
The 102nd-ranked Aussie, who fell in the round of 16 to Jannik Sinner in singles, has been hit with $35,000 in fines by the ATP for transgressions during his loss to the Italian.
He gets a $20,000 fine for Verbal Abuse, plus three separate $5,000 fines (two for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, the other for Audible Obscenity). He has been hit with a total of $60,000 in fines in his last two events (was fined $25,000 at Indian Wells).
Earlier in the week, Kyrgios was asked if he was ready to be hit with fines after his blow-up against Sinner on Grandstand court. Here is Kyrgios' response to the question of whether or not he cared that he was going to be fined again:
"Well, it's not that I don't care. I just don't think it's fair. Like I just hate to bring up the same things over and over again. But Shapovalov nailed a ball in someone's eyeball and got 5 grand. I can throw a racquet at Indian Wells, didn't even hit anyone, and I'm getting 25 grand."
"Where is like the balance? Like how much do I bring for the sport? Like that's the problem with tennis. We just don't protect our stars at all. We love to outcast them and full of bad media. ATP never defends their players, never stands up for them.
"I mean, I'm used to it. Been used to it my whole year. To be honest, it sucks. I know I could put in a great week, great performance. I played seven, six singles matches that the crowd has been pretty much packed for. Tennis is sparking, I think. And, you know, I have one incident where I throw a racquet -- and I know it can be dangerous. I know it can potentially be not good. Doesn't hit anyone. 25 grand."