Tennis World english 38 Tennis World English 38 | Page 18

A Tantrum
Too Far
by Giorgio Giannaccini

Nick
Kyrgios
has
finally
gone
a
step
too
far.
The
talented
but
volatile
Australian
recently
caused
controversy
in
Shanghai
where
he
basically
stop
trying
in
his
match
against
Mischa
Zverev.
He
hit
several
serves
with
basically
no
pace,
and
at
one
point
walked
off
the
court
before
the
point
had
finished.
Kyrgios
was
fined
a
total
of
$16
500
for
“lack
of
effort,”
verbal
abuse
of
a
spectator
and
unsportsmanlike
conduct.
This
in
itself
is
not
news
for
the
youngster,
who
has
been
fined
several
times
by
the
ATP
already,
but
the
big
surprise
came
a
few
days
after
the
initial
fines
were
handed
down.
Following
further
investigation,
the
ATP
decided
to
fine
him
a
further
$25
000
and
ban
him
from
the
Tour
for
8
weeks.

The
ATP
cited
“Conduct
Contrary
to
the
Integrity
of
the
Game”
as
the
basis
for
his
suspension,
saying
that
it
had
thoroughly
investigated
his
behavior
on
the
court
as
well
as
his
comments
afterwards.

The
severity
of
the
punishment
reflects
Kyrgios’
continued
poor
conduct
on
the
court,
but
it
was
probably
his
post-match
comments
that
finally
pushed
the
ATP
to
its
breaking
point.
“I
don't
owe
them
anything,”
he
ranted
after
the
match.
“It's
my
choice.
If
you
don't
like
it,
I
didn't
ask
you
to
come
watch.
Just
leave.
I
don't
owe
you
anything.
Doesn't
affect
how
I
sleep
at
night.”

Reaction
to
his
behavior
was
swift
and
brutal
from
fans
around
the
world,
with
many
current
and
former
players
also
lining
up
to
criticize
the
brash
Aussie.
Eventually,
following
the
ATP’s
announcement
of
his
suspension,
Kyrgios
did
something
he
has
always
resisted
in
the
past:
apologize.
“I
want
to
apologize
again
for
what
has
happened
in
Shanghai,”
he
said
in
a
statement.
“The
season
has
been
long
and
complicated
since
I
had
to
deal
with
several
injuries
and
other
difficult
situations
in
the
summer.
The
Asian
swing
was
particularly
difficult,
and
after
a
long
week
of
Tokyo
and
traveling
around
the
continent,
in
Shanghai
I
succumbed
mentally
and
physically.
This
is
not
an
excuse,
and
I
know
very
well
that
I
have
to
apologize
to
my
fans
all
over
the
world
and
with
the
Shanghai
organizers.
I'm
sorry
to
finish
the
year
that
way
without
being
able
to
play
the
chance
to
go
to
the
ATP
Finals,
I
understand
the
decision
of
the
ATP
and
I
will
use
this
time
to
improve
on
and
off.
I'm
really
sorry
and
I
look
forward
to