Kyrgios fined US$25,000 by ATP for Indian Wells outbursts

Australian Nick Kyrgios has been fined $25,000 for practically hitting a ball boy after smashing his racket and yelling an audible obscenity throughout his Indian Wells loss to Rafa Nadal earlier this month, the governing physique ATP mentioned on Friday (Mar 25).

Following his 7-6(0) 5-7 6-4 defeat, Kyrgios smashed his racket into the bottom and it bounced and practically struck a ball boy. The 28-year-old additionally swore at a fan throughout the match as he repeatedly clashed with the group and the chair umpire.

Kyrgios was fined US$20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and US$5,000 for an audible obscenity, an ATP spokesperson mentioned in a press release.

Nadal mentioned after the match that the ATP wanted to evaluation issues and make choices to keep away from a repeat of comparable incidents and various gamers have known as for stiffer penalties to curb outbursts after a sequence of incidents in latest matches.

American Jenson Brooksby threw his racket in frustration and unintentionally hit a ball boy throughout his first-round win over Federico Coria at this week’s Miami Open, for which he acquired a degree penalty as a substitute of a default.

Last month, world quantity 4 Alexander Zverev acquired a one-year probation following an expletive-filled tantrum on the ATP 500 occasion in Acapulco, the place he smashed his racket in opposition to the umpire’s chair and verbally abused him.

Zverev, who was expelled from the event, was fined US$40,000 and forfeited greater than US$31,000 in prize cash earlier than being handed a suspended eight-week ban and being fined an additional US$25,000 by the ATP following a evaluation.