Shanghai: Nick Kyrgios may yet face a suspension for his tank job at the Shanghai Masters. The same review process that led to an additional $US25,000 fine and suspended month-long ban being handed down 11 days after last year's sledging incident involving Stan Wawrinka is now underway.
The ATP's executive vice-president for rules and competition, Gayle David Bradshaw, told The New York Times that once the on-site supervisors had completed their investigations, "then it moves over to my office to review and determine if further action is warranted. And that's the stage we're at now".
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Nick Kyrgios mid-match meltdown
The Australian tennis star says he doesn't 'owe' fans anything after a lacklustre loss to Germany's Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Masters.
That process, which could result in a second fine or lengthy suspension, was confirmed by ATP staff in Shanghai.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic believes Kyrgios has some "life lessons to learn", while Wimbledon and Olympic champion Andy Murray has questioned whether the $21,838 in fines levied on the Australian world No.14 for three code of conduct breaches will act as a deterrent for wayward young players.
Kyrgios escaped immediate suspension for his bizarre non-effort in Wednesday's second-round loss to German qualifier Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, but was slugged the maximum on-site fine of US$10,000 ($A13,235) for "lack of best efforts", as well as US$5000 ($A6629) for verbal abuse of a spectator who urged him to respect the sport and its fans. The US$1500 ($A1985) balance was for unsportsmanlike conduct during a match Kyrgios surrendered 6-3, 6-1.
Opinion was divided on the appropriateness of the penalty, its perceived inadequacy lambasted on social media. Indeed, it will not leave him in the red for his two days of work in Shanghai, with Kyrgios still taking home to Canberra more than half of his second round loser's prizemoney of US$35,845 ($A47,451).
Murray, a Kyrgios ally and mentor, said it was up to the ATP to decide the appropriate penalties for disciplinary breaches, admitting he did not see the bizarre encounter that had prompted Thursday's ATP investigation. A heavy fine was inevitable, but Murray wondered if there may be better options.
"Whether it's the best way to discipline young players, I don't know," Murray said after reaching the quarter-finals via a straight-sets defeat of Lucas Pouille. "I don't know if that stops that happening again. I'm not convinced about that."
Djokovic, too, had missed a controversial round two encounter that was not shown on local TV. But he had heard about it. And not in a good way. "Yeah, we're kind of used to it when Kyrgios is a context of conversation. Not many great things are spoken about him lately," the 12-time major winner said.
"I'm sorry to hear that, because I share the opinion of many players and many people in the tennis world: that he's one of the greatest talents that the game has seen lately and he's got a huge potential, huge game.
"I mean, he's been doing well. He's around 15 in the world, so you've got to give him credit for that. But on the other hand, he obviously has life lessons to learn. He's still relatively young, so hopefully that's gonna happen."
Another rising star, American Jack Sock, defended his "good friend" Kyrgios, who had arrived in Shanghai after winning the biggest title of his career at last week's Japan Open. "It's a long year, some people, you make a few mistakes in your life and you learn from it. It's a long year, a lot of pressure on all of us. So it is what it is. I haven't talked to him about it and I haven't seen him, and I wasn't able to watch any of it."
Lucky him. The low point came as early as the fifth game when, after patting a serve over the net in the best mid-week ladies' style at break point down, he walked towards his chair before Zverev had even returned it. Chair umpire Ali Nili then told Kyrgios: "You can't play like that, OK? That's not professional ... this is a professional tournament, we have to act professional and play with your best effort the whole time."
The second-heaviest fine of Kyrgios' career followed his US$25,000 sanction and suspended 30-day ban after last year's infamous incident with Stan Wawrinka in Montreal. The ATP had already fined Kyrgios US$10,000 - the maximum allowed for incidents of verbal abuse or unsportsmanlike conduct - plus US$2500 for unsportsmanlike conduct regarding a comment to a ballkid during the match.
US Open champion Wawrinka was among the casualties on day five of the Shanghai Masters, the world No.3 beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Frenchman Gilles Simon. Fifth seed Milos Raonic followed No.4 Rafael Nadal out of the tournament, the Wimbledon finalist unable to convert two match points before being toppled 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) by Sock.The sixth seed, Gael Monfils, was dumped in three sets by No.11 David Goffin.
Meanwhile, Australian No.2 Bernard Tomic has withdrawn from next week's Kremlin Cup in Moscow, citing the same abdominal soreness that prompted his retirement against Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 3-0 in the first round in Shanghai.
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