The ATP Tour suspended Nick Kyrgios for eight weeks on Monday as a result of “conduct contrary to the integrity of the game.” Kyrgios blatantly tanked a match against Mischa Zverev in round two of last week’s Shanghai Rolex Masters, ultimately losing 6-3, 6-1.
The 21-year-old Australian can have the suspension reduced to three weeks if he agrees to enter “a plan of care under the direction of a sports psychologist or an equivalent plan approved by the ATP.” Either way, Kyrgios’ 2016 is over and his chances of qualifying for the World Tour Finals are gone. Even if he does not see a psychologist and takes the longer eight-week ban, he can return just in time for the 2017 Australian Open.
“Following the ATP’s decision today I would like to take this opportunity to [apologize] again for the circumstances in Shanghai,” Kyrgios wrote in a statement on his website. “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 [organizers] 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.”
thoughts?
Good move by the ATP IMO.
Kyrgios needs help but the ATP had to move here or continue to look like the FOOBAR Show that they typically do.
When I first read three weeks, I thought he could be back in time for Paris (which would have basically meant no actual suspension), but seeing that he’ll miss Paris at a minimum plus the added cash fine, I think they did a good job more or less.
That said, I think he’s a lost cause in the long run which is a real shame because he makes some ridiculous shots look easy. With Raonic’s mentality (bar the latest mental problema), he’d win slams.
Also, I’m curious.
I’m wondering if someone can tell me who wrote Nick’s apology.
He just needs a plan. A plan for when he experiences a decompensation of functions on court again. And he will have another episode. He must learn to identify it in himself and make a different choice. Retiring the match, saying no more to someone before the match. He doesn’t truly want to embarrass and humiliate himself and offend the fans. It was a mistake he can learn from with the right help. He probably had to fail again miserably to at tackle what could be a career ending characteristic. Long-term management of the issue is needed.
Nick has a good heart. He means well. I support you Nick Kyrgios!
Yeah, I want to like the guy but he don’t make it easy, no?
I admire your continued, enthusiastic support for him. For my part I only watch his matches for the dubious frisson of watching his meltdowns. But I agree with everyone who decries the way he has squandered his natural born talent.
my comment at 11.59 is addressed to Ratcliff.
That’s fair, ed. And it’s majority opinion. This was a bad episode indeed. And I don’t know him — the getting help part is iffy the way it is. I can envision how the change could be made — but have no idea whether it would last even as long as it did post the Stan story suspension over a year ago.
And that’s why I do wish they would have made the suspension to include AO. Throwing in the option to get help and have the suspension reduced is light and possibly won’t cut it.
When I said I support him, that doesn’t mean I support what he did in Shanghai, at all. That can’t happen. And possibly. it didn’t have to happen.
Totally deserved it! Nick is such a disappointment for fans…disrespecting his opponent, the crowd who paid money to watch him play and the fans cheering for him! Idiot! It will take loads of grown up behavior from him to win me over again. i am done cheering for him for now…he does need help though, but I would think more psychiatric than of sport psychologist …
I think it’s far to light. I think he should be suspended for the rest of this season, and then hit him where it really hurts, the Australian Open. That would send a message that the kind of crap he pulled will not be tolerated.
The ATP actually has a little backbone? Who knew?
Tignor wrote a little piece when NK took the fall off after his first breakthrough summer, wondering whether this kid had what it takes. I hadn’t thought about it until then, but….can you imagine any of the top guys deciding to shut their seasons down after their first early successes?
I am pleased that the ATP has taken this action. This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated. This kid needs sone help asap.
He may be naturally gifted and talented, but the he is clearly lacking professionalism, respect for this sport and a sense of responsibility to the fans who pay good money to watch competitive matches.
I hope he gets some psychological help as recommended by the ATP. He needs it.
You can lead a horse to water but….Kyrgios would have to want help before it would help. Pro tennis is hard on mind and body even for those born with the talent and passion for it.
He’s sorry until the next time? How many times have we seen this now? 8 week suspension when the season is ending, not much of a suspension. I’m glad the ATP took some kind of action, but it’s still not going to hurt him. And heaven forbid he’s out of the Australian Open, that would mean lost revenue and they won’t go for that. I hope he gets his act together, not holding my breath though.
VG decision by the ATP, and I hope Kyrios makes the most of the offer to get help….he’s great for the tour, for ticket sales etc, but he’s got to give 100% every match.
Not him, that’s for sure. Possibly Hewitt’s PR machine was pressed into action.
Doubt he cares … he’s put forth numerous times that he’s being forced to play tennis by his family … he won’t quit obviously as it’s a great source of income but he won’t stress a couple weeks off … talented players are often accused of wasting their talent but their talent is what affords them their poor approach to the game … guys like Goffin who are outworking their opponents understand that a bad day for them is a loss … talented players and servers are generally able to turn it up when they want … if Kyrgios isn’t throwing matches then that is what we are seeing … it is incredibly hard to bring yourself to grind through against inferior players … he knows he can win and it looks clear to the public that he just should but it’s a mental struggle for him to decide whether to put in the work or not … if he improves his fitness he will be able to coast with his B game and have consistent success like people want but I would not expect his mental focus to arrive for at least 2-3 more years … maturity isn’t coached … desire isn’t transferred … he doesn’t need a psychiatrist … it isn’t the stress of the tour … he’s not a basketcase … he’s normal … this is how normal young people react … the robots you see who drive each time have worked for this and want this … he just happened upon it …
I do not agree at all with this idea that it’s just a matter of immaturity. There are other young players who have not exhibited such boorish behavior. Making excuses for it is part of the problem. NK already got away with that incident with Stan, where he made a gross comment about his girlfriend during a match.
There give been other incidents where BK was not giving full effort in matches. Talent is not enough. You look at the top players and see that they did not try to coast on that. They also worked hard to maximize their games and set a good example with work ethic, practice and attitude.
Being a professional tennis player is not an entitlement, it’s a privilege. At least the ATP is doing something and sending a message, even if this suspension will not hurt NK because of it being at the end of the year.
The favs who pay to watch matches deserve the best effort from every player. If NK is so unhappy and it’s such a burden for him to show up and actually play, then he can find something else to do with his life. There are many other young players who would gladly jump at this opportunity.
I have no sympathy for him.
Well said NNY, I agree.
What’s this he feels like playing or not, or not interested in beating inferior players?? I thought beating ‘inferior’ players won’t take him much time or effort to do so and he should have finished the job easily instead of tanking to lose? What logic is that?
There’s no excuse for tanking, not when spectators pay good money and expect to see players putting in efforts to put up good shows. This is poor from Kygrios by any standard.
He has gotten to where he is without hard work and with the wrong attitude. There are many players who would jump at the chance to be where he is but they are not there because they are simply not as good. Are the ATP players contracted by the tour? It seems like they make their own schedule . If they are getting appearance fees or a salary then his fine should be larger as it should not be a surprise to him. I’m not absolving his behavior he’s a douchey POS with a terrible attitude and poorly fitting shirts; I’m just saying he’s too good for them to be able to aptly reprimand him. He has minimum 5 years of top level tennis left in him even if he doesn’t improve and he is a big draw for fans whether he’s winning or acting like a child.
Imagine how good he’d be if he actually enjoyed playing.
He’d win slams I tells ya!
Yeah he may win slams but not during the era of big four even when the era is nearing its end.
Hawkeye,
Great point! But I don’t see NK putting in the effort necessary to get there. Talent alone is not enough. The history of this sport is littered with gifted players who never reached their potential and have slipped into oblivion.
There are no short cuts. All players have to put in the effort and hard work to be the best they can be. NK is no exception. Being a professional means that you go out there and give it your best even if it’s against a supposedly inferior opponent. That is what fans expect when they pay good money to watch matches.
NK does not get to decide when he will put forth the effort to win. It’s not something you turn on and off like a switch.
I also think that there are other interesting and exciting players in this sport who are not only talented, but willing to go out and give it their best in every match.
If he’s still behaving like a child, I doubt he would have big draw of fans going forward.
Looks like Nicky is declining the reduction in his suspension (but who knows what to believe with him)….
“In a Twitter Q&A on Wednesday morning, the controversial Australian appeared to be at odds with Tennis Australia’s claim a day earlier that he had agreed to seek professional help.
When asked if he intended to meet with a psychologist, he replied: “Probs not.”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/oct/19/nick-kyrgios-indicates-u-turn-on-decision-to-see-sports-psychologist?CMP=share_btn_tw
@russellcfuller
Richard Krajicek has released Nick Kyrgios from his contract for Feb’s Rotterdam tournament: so he can play in NBA’s All Star Celebrity game
#LOL
Oh, I would so love for him to play for the NBA. Nicky thinks pro tennis life is hard? lololol
Pro tennis is much harder. The focus and intensity you have to maintain these days is crazy.
You still have to wonder how the fact that Nick has been constantly targeted and outed by the media has contributed to his reactions. The best thing you can do to attention seekers is to ignore them as best as you can, and then they realise they need to work hard to earn it.
But journalists these days will spew all kinds of rubbish in addition to the fact (unwarranted opinions, as though anybody commenting on Nick understands the rigours of the professional game), and then wonder why he hates tennis.
I’m not saying Nick is right. But a lot of people commenting against him aggressively do not understand how demanding pro tennis has become, nor they do allow the existence of the brittle human element. You have to wonder how the same people would perform under a similar set of conditions, when they can’t keep things under control in an exchange of opinions.
@ Mikkers
It was the media, in particular the ATP themselves who desperate for a newGen player to promote, talked him up excessively. It went to his head and led to him to believing all the hype. Sadly he lacked the maturity to handle the situation and he spiralled out of control. He now faces the backlash as people who once admired his chutzpah have have turned against him. It’s regrettable but he is the architect of his own downfall.
#if you can’t deal with the heat get out of the kitchen
@ Mikkers
I can’t agree with your statement ‘people don’t understand the demands of professional tennis’. Those of us who are serious tennis fans are acutely aware of what it takes to perform at a high level day in day out, year after year and marvel at players’ mental and physical stamina. Kyrgios is just one in an exceptionally large pool of young talented players. Right now he is not comparing favourably with his contemporaries.
Bang on ed.
No one here says it’s easy but standards are high at this level. Tanking the way he did IMO especially given his prior antics is inexcusable.
And now he pulls out of Rotterdam to play NBA celebrity all star game?
You can’t be kyrgios!!!!
They’re welcome to him as far as I’m concerned. Still surprised Krajicek let him off the hook to take part.
Clearly doesn’t rate his pulling power in Rotterdam that highly. Or maybe he didn’t want to take the risk of NK tanking there and riling the crowds.
#Sensible decision
Krajicek has no choice
Why do you say that?