ATP will fine Nick Kyrgios for crude comment to Stan Wawrinka
The Association of Tennis Professionals will fine Nick Kyrgios an undisclosed amount for an “insulting remark,” reports tennis broadcaster Ravi Ubha.
French Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka called for the ATP to punish Kyrgios for comments he made about Wawrinka's girlfriend during their Rogers Cup match on Wednesday. ATP rules allow for a fine up to $10,000 for verbal abuse or unsportsmanlike conduct.
Microphones on the court amplified Kyrgios, 20, saying that fellow Australian player Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with Croatian tennis player Donna Vekic, 19, who is reportedly Wawrinka's girlfriend. Wawrinka, 30, separated from his wife in April.
Early Thursday morning, Wawrinka sent four tweets expressing his distaste for Kyrgios's actions.
“So disappointing to see a fellow athlete and colleague be so disrespectful in a way I could never imagine,” Wawrinka wrote. “What was said I wouldn't say to my worst enemy. To [stoop] so low is not only unacceptable but also beyond belief. There is no need for this kind of behaviour (sic) on or off the court and I hope the governing body of this sport does not stand for this and stands up for the integrity of this sport that we have worked so hard to build.”
• Watch List: Top storylines ahead of Rogers Cup in Montreal, Toronto
After the match, Kyrgios claimed Wawrinka provoked him into lashing out.
“He was getting a bit lippy with me,“ Kyrgios said. “Kind of in the heat of the moment, I don't know, I just said it.”
On Thursday, Kyrgios posted an apology on Facebook, writing that his comments “were made in the heat of the moment and were unacceptable on many levels.”
Wawrinka withdrew from Wednesday's match after sustaining a back injury while down 4–0 in the third set, handing Kyrgios the victory.
“It's not the first time that he has [had] big problems on court in terms of what he says and in terms of how he acts,” Wawrinka told BBC.
Kyrgios was fined $9,500 at Wimbeldon for unsportsmanlike conduct after using obscenity. He was also booed by fans at Wimbeldon for his apparent lack of effort during his fourth-round loss to Richard Gasquet, and was filmed smashing two of his rackets on the court at the Davis Cup.
- Erin Flynn
