It can be frustrating to be a Nick Kyrgios fan
Nick Kyrgios is extremely talented. The world No. 24 just won his second title this year, at the Citi Open, defeating his double partner and good friend, another next gen sensation, Stefanos Tsitsipas. His relationship with the Greek talent is one of many that speaks to his likeable side on the Tour. He’s also been spotted cheering on another ‘mate,’ Andy Murray, in his first singles match after his second hip surgery, in Cincinnati.
❌ Seats reserved for ❌ President and Vice President of the @andy_murray fan club 😁#CincyTennis | 🎥: @TennisTV | @NickKyrgios | @feliciano_lopez pic.twitter.com/sJhDlGKBpn
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 12, 2019
The 24-year-old Australian also has a side to him that is quite endearing, such as his entertaining antics during the final in Washington, D.C.
This week has been a better love story than Twilight. pic.twitter.com/zEoz8ptvzX
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 4, 2019
Kyrgios has spent plenty of time through his foundation on children’s mental health and has been caught plenty of times hanging out with young players and taking time out to spend with kids. For all his faults, he is liked by plenty in the locker room, although I doubt that includes Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.
Nick Kyrgios opens up about mental health, foundation and injuries. https://t.co/LhKPoF7jL7
— Canberra Times (@canberratimes) November 4, 2018
But being a fan of this prodigious talent can be extremely frustrating, after watching his latest tirade during the Karen Khachanov match. One can’t help feeling exasperated that he is throwing away his enormous talent. There’s no excuse for the litany of abuse that was expressed during the event, which began with ball abuse, culminating with calling the chair umpire Fergus Murphy a “f****ing tool.” The multitude of fines totaled a record $113,000, assessed by the ATP. You can see the full list here:
ATP statement on NK....@CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/qYkJV3bTjl
— Rob Koenig (@RobKoenigTennis) August 15, 2019
And it’s not over, with the ATP still considering if an additional fine will be levied. The six-time ATP title winner may be looking at a ban from the sport. A two-month ban would knock him out of running at the U.S. Open. Since the ATP now sanctions the Laver Cup—where he is being heavily marketed as a big draw at the team event—it will be interesting if he will be prevented from participating. All of his titles have been won on hard courts and if he’s banned for the rest of the year, it will be a big blow to his tennis season.
Nick Kyrgios has collected two ATP titles this year, but with each flash of brilliance, a litany of tantrums has followed, including violations at Roger’s Cup last week, Queen’s Club in June, an eight-week ban in 2016, just to name a few. The paradox of Kyrgios can be found in his running list of code violations.
Will Nick Kyrgios be banned from the sport? News on the situation should be forthcoming in the next few days. It’s clear that the ATP is looking to send a strong message to the Australian. His fans are hoping that at some point the childish antics will cease and the disciplined version of the world talent will emerge again, evidenced at Citi Open and Acapulco earlier this year. Once can only hope, because the outbursts are not only irritating his fans, they are also destroying all the success he’s achieved.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2H9l9V2
No comments