Nick Kyrgios has received a 16-week suspension and an additional U$25,000 (A$37,000) fine following an ATP investigation into his Cincinnati meltdown in August.
Kyrgios was fined a record $A167,000 when he smashed two racquets, argued with chair umpire Fergus Murphy and spat in the direction of the official after a loss to Karen Khachanov.
A long investigation has attempted to find middle ground with Kyrgios, a player popular with fans at tournaments around the world regardless of his ongoing indiscretions.
Watch Kyrgios have explosive meltdown back in August:
The 16-week ban and US$25,000 fine will be wiped after a six-month probationary period, provided Kyrgios receives “no further code violations that result in a fine for:
- Verbal or physical abuse of officials, spectators or any other persons while on-court or on-site
- Unsportsmanlike conduct based upon an act, such as spitting, directed towards an official, spectator or other person during or upon conclusion of the match
- Visible obscenity directed towards an official
Kyrgios must also receive “continued support from a mental coach” during ATP events and additional support during the off-season from a behavioural management specialist.
Probation puts the onus on Kyrgios to behave, which has rarely happened during his career.
A separate investigation into Kyrgios’s “corruption” comments at the US Open cleared the Australian of any major offences.
Kyrgios will not have to pay if complies with conditions set out by the ATP for the next six months.
The ATP findings came just hours after Kyrgios announced he would miss the remainder of the Asian swing after aggravating a shoulder injury at the Zhuhai Championships.
The 24-year-old was knocked out by Italy’s Andreas Seppi 7-6(5) 6-1 in Zhuhai on Wednesday after an issue with his collarbone affected his service rhythm for the majority of the first-round match.
The world No.27 was scheduled to participate in the China Open and Shanghai Masters over the next weeks.
“Unfortunately a collarbone injury I sustained at Laver Cup has escalated and has forced me to pull out of the Asian swing, I’ll be heading back to Australia to rest and recover,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.
Kyrgios, who has claimed two ATP titles this season, said he would consider resting until the Davis Cup finals in Madrid in November.
