Tennis World english 38 Tennis World English 38 | Page 19

returning
next
year.”
One
lifeline
that
the
ATP
extended
to
Kyrgios
is
the
possibility
that
his
suspension
might
be
shortened
to
three
weeks
if
he
agreed
to
a
treatment
program
with
a
sports
psychologist.
According
to
reports,
he
was
in
discussions
to
do
just
that
shortly
after
the
suspension
was
announced.

“Nick's
behavior
was
unacceptable,
showed
no
respect
for
the
tennis
and
its
supporters,”
Chris
Kermode,
the
ATP
president,
said
of
the
situation.
“We
take
these
issues
very
seriously,
and
Nick
apologized.
He's
a
phenomenal
talent,
we
hope
that
this
time
out
of
competition
can
be
constructive
and
that
with
support
he
can
come
back
with
a
better
mentality.”
Now
that
the
storm
is
calming,
one
is
left
to
wonder
if
Kyrgios
will
take
this
situation
seriously
and
strive
to
improve
himself.
It’s
clear
that
the
ATP
has
lost
its
patience
with
the
youngster,
and
if
he
continues
on
this
path
he

might
eventually
be
permanently
barred
from
competition.
Apart
from
the
embarrassment
this
has
caused
the
Tour
itself,
Kyrgios
also
hurt
himself
immensely.
Not
only
can’t
he
compete
for
the
rest
of
the
year,
but
he
also
cannot
qualify
for
the
ATP
World
Tour
Finals,
something
he
had
a
chance
of
doing
before
his
outburst.

John
McEnroe
famously
managed
to
keep
his
temper
under
just
enough
control
to
not
get
himself
kicked
off
the
Tour.
Can
Kyrgios
do
the
same?
It’s
worth
wondering
whether
he
actually
has
any
desire
to.
Up
to
this
point,
he
has
lurched
from
controversy
to
controversy
without
changing
his
behavior
in
the
slightest,
even
after
being
warned
by
the
ATP
that
he
could
be
suspended
if
he
continued
acting
poorly.
The
next
year
will
be
telling.
Kyrgios
will
either
rise
to
fulfil
his
potential
or
become
a
footnote
in
tennis
history.
The
choice
is
his.