“I guess I’m a pretty boring player. I don’t bring much to the sport.’
The genius, hot-headed, polarising, show-stopping, infuriating, exceptional/wasted talent that is Nick Kyrgios uttered these words after his third-round loss to Andrey Rublev at the US Open.
When the 24-year-old was asked what the ATP Tour should do to him after he said the governing body was ‘pretty corrupt’, he shrugged it off, before giving the aforementioned quote.
Despite walking back his ‘corrupt’ remark, Kyrgios said he wanted to draw attention to apparent ‘double standards’ at play, as well as suggesting other players had not been punished as severely as he had for similar acts.
But here lies the rub. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that Kyrgios is the ATP Tour’s prized asset and a veritable cash cow, is it expedient to ban him?
As he is arguably the most talked-about player behind Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the answer to that question could very well be, no.
We keep hearing that he is bringing in younger fans in a sport that is, reportedly, in desperate need of it.
In one instance, he is bowing to a raucous crowd after hitting a delicious tweener-lob, the next being booed for smashing a racquet or letting out a stream of invective, such as calling an umpire ‘a f*****g tool’.
However, he should be reprimanded for the transgressions he has made. Kyrgios is not above tennis’ laws.
His point about ‘double standards’ is a difficult one to gauge. Kyrgios acts in a way that many others do not and his indiscretions seem to be happening an awful lot of the time in 2019.
To pick out one notable example, Serena Williams was heard saying she would shove a ball down a line judge’s throat. She was fined $10,500 but did not get a ban. The ATP and WTA dishes out fines but bans are harder to come by.
If you excavate Kyrgios’ past, in regards to misdemeanours, there is an ever-growing list of troublesome incidents.
In his relatively short career, Kyrgios has racked up hundreds of thousands of pounds/dollars in fines and banned for a handful of weeks.
His most noteworthy punishments are varied and, at times, vulgar.
At the 2015 Montreal Masters, in an act of apparent sledging, he told Stan Wawrinka: “(Thanasi) Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate.” He was fined $13,127 but received no ban.
At the 2016 Shanghai Masters, Kyrgios was fined $25,000 for ‘tanking’ his match against Mischa Zverev.
His ban of eight weeks was reduced to three weeks after he agreed to an ATP plan to consult a sports psychologist.
At the 2019 Rome Masters, he was defaulted from his second-round match versus Casper Ruud for swearing at a line judge, kicking a bottle and throwing a chair onto the court.
He was fined more than $20,000 and had his prize money and points from the event forfeited. No ban.
Most recently at last month’s Cincinnati Masters, Kyrgios was fined $113,000 for swearing at umpire Fergus Murphy and several other incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct. No ban, yet.
The calls to have him banned continued to grow and perhaps it was this final straw that broke the ATP/camel’s back.
After his loss in Cincinnati, the ATP launched an investigation into this. Kyrgios’ comments about the ATP being ‘corrupt’ could not have come at a worse time as the governing body began another investigation, this one into ‘conduct contrary to the integrity of the game’.
So, Kyrgios could very soon be in a lot of hot water.
Fines have done little to dissuade him from his tantrums but perhaps a ban is the right course of action. We don’t hear much about him tanking matches anymore (since the Shanghai incident).
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The harshest possible punishment Kyrgios can receive for these actions would be a $100,000 fine and a three-year ban. This does seem unlikely.
Is that too much? I would argue yes.
At times Kyrgios is unfathomable. He has his charitable foundation, he plays tennis with kids before he plays his matches and his trick shots and game can be electrifying.
On other occasions, he can be one of the worst things about the sport.
He also admitted that he has been going through some mental struggles over the years and has seen psychologists for this as well. It is hard to know the full story.
So I ask you, at what point does Kyrgios deserve a ban? I’d argue, yes.
But to stop him complaining about double standards, it seems more clear cut guidelines should be set out and stricter ones should be implemented too.
Either way, I think everyone in tennis hopes that Kyrgios can cut this out of his game and produce more prolonged periods of magic tennis like we saw when he won the title in Washington.
If he does, tennis will continue to pull in the fans across the globe.
Karena franses
Guest
I’ve seen tantrums and bad behavior, mainly from male tennis players through the years. We found ways to excuse it. But I have to say my tolerance has run out. The abusive behavior from Kyrgios and Medvedev from Fognini and Benoit Pierre now seems to me to be examples of toxic masculinity. Entitled. No apology. No humility or concern about the impact of their behavior on others. And this vile behavior is excused by commentators (mainly men) and players and spectators and the ATP, applauded by some, and overall tolerated. The focus is about how great their play and their charisma. Kyrigos is still allowed to play with nothing more than a fine for having violent tantrums on the court. Fognini calls the female umpire a whore. Medvedev gives the finger and grabs the towels from a ball boy and throws it, kyrigos throws a chair and smashes things around him. And they are still on court, playing, earning money. They are seen as “bad boys”. To me they are narcissistic. They know that their male privilege gets them a “free” pass from any serious consequences for their behavior and that allows them to continue. It’s about time the ATP started banning these guys from the game. Not for a tournament but for a year or more. Let them reflect on their toxic behavior without rewarding it. I can assure you if their behavior is truly not tolerated they will have to control it or get another profession.
Old Possum
Guest
Would you consider the horrendous public bullying he gets from the media, bullying? The night before he played his first match in USO there were four 'experts' analysing his mental health. 100 newspapers around the world are variously reporting what Rod Laver apparently thinks about him. Nobody I have talked to in Melbourne in the past week knows that Kyrgios has won anything - ever. All they know is what the media tells them - he is coarse, rude, lacking in talent, and throws and breaks things. They did not know that he has ever played a single sublime match in his life. MOST of Kyrgios's matches are sublime. He is a perfectionist. Some of his matches are wretched.
bbq bill
Guest
Ban him forever! There was tennis before Kyrgios and there'll be tennis after Kyrgios. Who cares what his problem is? Who cares how good his tennis is? Let the game move on.
DNZ
Guest
Played being the operative word. He hasn’t of late. He’s not out there behaving like that while he was either. As for the head of state, last I checked Nick isn’t an elected official. He’s a professional athlete and the taxpayer doesn’t fund his trips around the globe. But if we were, yeah I’d expect more.
DNZ
Guest
I never called you a clown. That was a general statement about everyone thinking they know what he’s like, or what his problem is or how they would perform in his shoes. He’s also not my idol. I don’t care for him much myself but I don’t go getting all emotional in response to his behaviour. It’s apparent you do though and are way too invested in his goings on.
a
Roar Rookie
Yes he needs help
hayboy
Roar Rookie
Yet to see that happen. The World tennis whatever it's called are weak as piss.
hayboy
Roar Rookie
He is Australian. End of.
mushi
Roar Guru
He’s played Davis cup and he has that little flag against his name in tournaments. The head of state is an individual, does that mean they don’t represent their country?
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
I can assure you that I'm not jealous of his ability. I follow most sports & appreciate the performances of various athletes. You refer to me as a clown however I was raised to show respect. Swearing was almost unheard of then. I acknowledge it's a different world now however the more excuses you make for Nick comes across as condoning his behaviour. Do you behave in the same manner if things go against you? Your idol is not fit to clean the shoes of Laver, Rosewall, Rafter, Hoad, Newcombe, Roche, Laver, Federer etc. Are you grasping the point I'm trying to make or do I need to draw you a picture to help you comprehend.
mushi
Roar Guru
What about when he threw the match as a tantrum?
Kramer
Guest
What a load of crap DNZ. This is a guy who abuses linesman and referees knowing they can’t bite back...in other words he is a bully! All bullies in the work environment should be called out and he is no different. Just because he does it on the public stage he should be banned until he shows respect for those he works with...until then he gets judged like the brat he is!
DNZ
Guest
See this is something I just do not get. He plays an individual sport and his meltdowns have nothing to do with me, us or Australia. If you don't like him, don't watch. I find it hard to think of a sport that has less personality or is more bourgeois that tennis (sailing? alpine skiing? golf?). I don't mind watching Nick play because you're usually entertained. He plays well or melts down.
DNZ
Guest
John your comments about him reek of someone jealous of his ability thinking "I'd have made so much more of myself if I had his talent." He's him, and with zero work ethic and an ability to break down when the going gets tough, he is still a top 30 tennis player making millions each year. He's just one of many Australians doing a job they don't particularly like. But unlike everyone else, he has to deal with clowns judging him for it and talking about his attitude and everything else.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
"Ha, I wasn't even trying my hardest" said many a school kid in the playground when they lost a challenge. He is a person scared of failing unless it is on his terms. To get over that he needs a bit of help off the court. In the meantime penalties are justified if only to discourage others following suit, especially for personal abuse.
Rob
Guest
Kyrgios is a strange character. Off the court he seems to be a pretty good bloke. As you said he has his own charity and takes the time to interact with fans, especially kids. Once he's on the court he becomes a different person and no doubt crosses the line in the way he talks to the umpires. I think he actually has some good points a lot of the time he just doesn't address it the right way (eg, his comment on corruption). I do hope one day he comes good cause when he's on he can beat anyone he wants to. He's still only 24 so luckily he has time on his side.
deano
Roar Rookie
it doesn't matter if he cares, it is a simple process. misbehave and you no longer get to complete and make money.
hayboy
Roar Rookie
A smear on the Australian sporting landscape that needs to be removed.
Nick
Roar Guru
Apologist nonsense. Thanks for that wonderful insight, Mrs Kyrgios.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Soon I hope. Tennis needs to get its act together to reign in bad behaviour. Players have had far too much leniency for too long. Personally there a number of players I just won’t watch because of their rudeness and arrogance. It’s a huge turn off.