Nick Kyrgios’ mouth is writing a check he might have to cash.
The salty star could get fined or suspended after labeling the ATP as “corrupt.” He made the comments following a first-round win at the U.S. Open, vexed after being fined a record $113,000 in the wake of a second-round loss to Karen Khachanov at the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month. Now his wallet could get even lighter.
“The comments made by Nick Kyrgios after his first round match in New York will be assessed under the Player Major Offense provision under ATP Rules,” the ATP said in a statement. “A determination will be made by Gayle David Bradshaw, Executive Vice President, Rules & Competition, following an investigation as required by ATP rules.”
The 2019 ATP rule book says a “major offense” can be punished by a suspension of up to a year and a fine of up to the amount of prize money won at a tournament. After that thought seemed to finally set in, he wisely tried to walk that back with a statement.
“I would like to go on record to clarify my comment around the ATP being corrupt, it was not the correct choice of words and my point and intention was to address what I see as double standards rather than corruption,” Kyrgios said in a statement on his Twitter account.
“I know my behaviour at times has been controversial and that has landed me in trouble, which at times is granted and valid but my issue is around others whether gaining the same, less or more media attention doing the same or similar behaviour and being sanctioned.”
“That’s my issue and it continues to be. To be clear I know I’m not perfect and do not pretend to be and I acknowledge I’ve deserved fines and sanctioning at times, but I expect consistency and fairness with this across the board, to date that’s not happened.”
“I’ve had huge support from Chris Kermode and have given it in return, so I want to clarify my comments but stand by my beliefs and sentiment around double standards.”
Whatever action Kyrgios faces probably won’t come down until after the U.S. Open.
Reilly Opelka’s first U.S. Open is over as he lost in the second round Wednesday to qualifier Dominik Koepfer of Germany in a match that ended after midnight at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The final count was 6-4, 6-4, 7-6. The match was set for a 5 p.m. start on Court 17 but rain delayed it and USTA officials stuffed it onto Armstrong’s late-night card with a very sparse crowd.
The rising 6-foot-11 American pulled off 24 aces in the defeat and blew four set points in the third set.
American Bradley Klahn put up a fight before falling to Kei Nishikori. The seventh-seeded Nishikori won 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to move to the third round versus Alex de Minaur or No. 31 Cristian Garin.
— additional reporting by Marc Berman
