A complex Kyrgios crashes out of Australian Open

Glenn, I don't disagree at all. No one could. but that is not what you said in your initial post. Your argument only works when someone has knowingly match fixed. You rightfully haven't accused him of doing so either. Respectfully, unless you actually state Kyrgios is match fixing, your argument doesn't have a leg to stand on. Deliberately underperforming does not equate to match fixing or manipulating the betting market - it's just shocking sportsmanship, and Kyrgios should never have to think of the gamblers when he walks onto court. However being paid to deliberately underperform does equate to manipulation. If a petulant child like Kyrgios wants to underperform for nothing else than his ego, so be it. It's unfortunate, and he should be punished for poor sportsmanship...but those actions have no direct consequence on betting integrity. It's only an indirect consequence If he was paid to underperform, entirely different story - that is 100% a direct influence on the betting market. Yes? I'll apologise for the somewhat brash tone in presenting my argument, and respectfully agree to disagree. Respect to you for answering and providing reasoned arguments and advice. A hell of a lot better than your 'colleague'.

Spruce .... Spruce, I believe that placing a bet knowing that you are going to win is a manipulation. The dictionary categorises manipulation as, "to manage or influence skilfully, especially in an unfair manner". I would say that having a large wager on the outcome of an event - whilst guaranteeing you have a collect - and as a results the odds will likely be adjusted for the punters that follow is actually a manipulation of the markets. I am sorry I am blind, but that is my very view of it.

Anderson was not charged with match fixing because he lost a set: he was charged because he allegedly took money from a gambling syndicate to lose that set. Big difference. And no, it shouldn't be assumed a player loses a set because the match is fixed: it should be assumed that, if the match was fixed, there will be unusual betting patterns to corroborate suspicions. As for team doping, I say again, cycling. And not just US Postal, either; plenty of teams have been tossed out of the Tour and other major events for coordinated, planned doping.

We see players suspended for match fixing not because of the betting markets, but because they took money to deliberately underperform...not because they manipulated the betting markets. The latter is simply a byproduct of the former. Der. How are you so blind to this Glenn?

Oh come on...... The guy is human. He is 21. I hope he walks his own path to the top. Look beneath the brash bravado he is just a kid trying to work it out. He doesn't sit above us (god like) like the current top crop. He is batman to Federers superman. His humanity, his passion, his youthful confusion and search for identity. It's all there and it's fascinating. I love Federer but he always seemed too perfect. Honestly, stop judging him and just enjoy the flawed genius that is NK.

Seriously Anon. The betting agencies have a vested interest in this ie: $$$. Do you think they are going to ignore a suspiciously significant bet on the match to go to five and then it happens.

Sheek, I understand your frustration. It's easy to just see the surface ( an antisocial git) But I completely agree with the title. Probably not much of the rest of the article. Sorry David. Kyrgios is a fascinating study in genius, grit and generational shifts in values and behaviour. Watch Good Will Hunting and think of Matt Damon's character as Kyrgios. He has the same F@@# you all attitude I don't want your love. But you can see his behaviour is bravado and self destruction driven by deeper issues. Watch him more closely. He is a flawed genius. The most fascinating type. I honestly hope he stays in the game and succeeds. I think there is much more to him than people realise. You don't get to 13 at 21 years old without having something strong within you. I Hope he can work it out and harness it. Either way he is much more entertaining to watch than some of the other cardboard robots on tour.

If he was going to throw it why would you take it to 10-8 in the fifth. He was beaten mentally. It was textbook. He'd need to be a an Oscar contender to pretend to mentally disintegrate like that.

No way he tanked. He was mentally broken by a more experienced, mentally tough but less talented player. Mental toughness will always beat freakish talent at that level. Because you don't get to that level without being freakishly talented. Seppi played him like a Marlin. He held on just long enough until NK's mental energy was depleted and wound him in. Just because Kyrgios was sulking like a three year old doesn't mean he didn't want to win. It just meant he couldn't.

Anon, last time I checked 50 thousand dollars is nowhere near "hundreds of thousands of euros", but don't let the truth get in the way of a good story hey.. Also, would you care to provide a link or some kind of evidence to back up your Serena Williams crawl space claim, or is that just another one of your useless conspiracy theories?

Spruce, I have not said that Kyrgios manipulated last night's game with respect to the betting markets but when you say "It is not Nick Kyrgios' responsibility, nor ANY sportsperson's responsibility to play for the integrity of the betting markets", why do we see players suspended for match and spot fixing. If it is not their responsibility to play for the integrity of the betting markets why has tennis just banned some AUS players from playing as a result of match fixing. Why were Hansie Cronje, Salim Malik and Mohammad Azzhrudin banned from cricket and why have players and managers been banned from European football? Why were three Pakistan players suspended for spot fixing for bowling no-balls? Hardly influenced the outcome of the Test but they were sent to gaol for their actions. And NO, I am not saying they must simply play for the integrity of the betting markets but for the integrity of their sport as a whole. But, it is fanciful, given the penalties that have been meted out to say that sportspeople bear no responsibility with respect to betting market manipulation.

Why was Oliver Anderson charged with match fixing? Because he lost a set through clearly not giving 100% effort. What did Kyrgios do last night, as he has done routinely over the past several years? He lost two sets through clearly not giving 100% effort. In a sport rife with match fixing, when a player decides on a whim to give no effort and throw a couple sets, it should be assumed that they are fixing a match. As for Essendon, MLB teams didn't have systematic doping programmes in place. Teams turned a blind eye to players themselves sourcing steroids and HGH, but they didn't actually implement comprehensive doping programme as Essendon/James Hird did.

Just catching up here, and Anon, I think you should change your name to "Hypberole R Us" Krygios was penalized for not giving his best effort in Shanghai. That's a code issue that has zero to do with match-fixing. There is no evidence to date that any of his tanks have been remotely related to any kind of betting rings, and you'd best be careful about making those kind of allegations without evidence. No, Australians aren't immune. I seem to recall a local, small time football team not so long ago being caught out for match fixing. Look up the Southern Stars. A VPL team that got themselves involved in fixing games for offshore betting rings. So it isn't just the majors where there's money to be made. But to call what happened at Essendon the worst example of systematic doping in the history of pro team sport does kind of ignore - oh, well, cycling, major league baseball, athletics, and a whole slew of others - heck, the entire Finnish cross country ski team got done for doping not that long ago. Yes, you can give this guy the benefit of the doubt. Until you show actual evidence that he's involved with the betting industry, or that betting patterns around his games are suspicious, you absolutely give him the benefit of the doubt. He's an immature tantrum-prone guy who may never have what it takes to make it in the professional tennis world, but he definitely gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to allegations of criminal behaviour. Sure, look at him closely, but unless you've got something like, I dunno, evidence, he gets the benefit of the doubt.

My apology. I really didn't pay much attention to the results this summer. I'm more or less done with Tests. I'm thinking of the Boxing Day Test. Certain draw for Pakistan going into day 5 and Pakistan lose the unloseable. Nothing suspicious there. It's not like they have a 25 year history of throwing matches and spot fixing.

Pakistan made 450 chasing 480 in the first test. If you are going to bandy about all sorts of match fixing allegations at least get them right.

Yes. As passionate as I am about my country, I'm more passionate about old fashioned sportsmanship. There's no reason it has to disappear just because a sport is professional.

"Seriously David, do you not take the time to read your ramblings before you hit the ‘Add Comment’ button?" Christo, your mistake there was presuming a base level of literacy in the education of David.

Geoff. I would like to see this bloke Nick Spewalot ,disowned by Australian Tennis and Greece asked if they want him as a citizen, He is an absolute clown,and not worth watching... Sava

"The players were targeted in hotel rooms at major tournaments and offered $50,000 or more per fix, according to the report. Gambling syndicates in Russia and Italy, meanwhile, made thousands of dollars placing what the report characterizes as "highly suspicious bets" on scores of matches, including some at Wimbledon and the French Open." http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/14590723/report-alleges-widespread-match-fixing-major-tournaments-top-ranked-players It's so easy to do too. Almost undetectable. Even when hiding in plain sight. Also, remember it's in tennis's best interests to keep this covered up as much as possible. Much like it's best to cover up any allegations of performance enhancing drug use. Serena Williams runs into a crawl space when testers turn up unannounced at her house. Nothing suspicious there...

So now you're saying he tanked 2/5 of a match.... LOL Seriously David, do you not take the time to read your ramblings before you hit the 'Add Comment' button? Still waiting for your evidence by the way... Waiting... Waiting...