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Nick Kyrgios: When is enough enough?

Was 2016 still a good year for Kyrgios? (AAP Image/Tennis Australia, Fiona Hamilton)
Roar Guru
12th October, 2016
16

Since bursting onto the scene a number of years ago Nick Kyrgios has rarely stayed away from controversy for long: in fact, he has achieved the impossible and largely taken the heat off Bernard Tomic.

Nick’s behaviour since coming on tour has been horrendous.

Continually he has berated umpires, sworn and smashed racquets, showed disrespect to his opponent and seems to have tanked against multiple opponents.

Despite this, he has been continually forgiven by the Australian public and media.

His worst controversy was in 2015 when playing against Switzerland’s Stam Wawrinka, in front of the camera and microphone Nick said audibly: “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that mate.”

Kyrgios was referring to Wawrinka’s girlfriend, then 19-year-old Donna Vekic.

This despicable behaviour was roundly condemned by both Australian and international media.

However, like with all of Kyrgios’ previous controversies, the Australian public and media soon forgot.

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Kyrgios even had the audacity to be offended when Kitty Chiller put him on notice for his poor behaviour before the Olympics, asking him to justify why he should be allowed to represent Australia given his behaviour.

Large segments of the Australian public and media were horrified at Chiller’s actions.

In Wimbledon 2015 when playing against France’s Richard Gasquet, Kyrgios looked to have ‘tanked’ (lost on purpose) on multiple points where he did not even try to return Gasquet’s serve.

Last night, playing in the Shanghai Masters against Mischa Zverev, Kyrgios tanked again. At one point he even hit a pathetic serve worthy of a five-year-old and walked off the court before Zverev had even hit his return.

Tanking is against the rules in tennis, for a number of reasons. First and foremost is the fact that the fans pay money to attend the sport, and expect to witness a proper match. Secondly, as an individual sport tanking opens up the sport to corrupt gambling practices.

My question is, when is enough enough? When will the Australian public and media stop forgiving Kyrgios his despicable behaviour?

As long as Australia keeps forgiving Nick his constant indiscretions he, and others like him, have no incentive to change their ways and to represent Australia wall.

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Is it really so important to have a winner that we will tolerate a player who is not only a disgrace to tennis, but a disgrace to Australia?

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