Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has been fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and stripped of his $21,085 prize-money after he walked off court Tuesday, quitting his first-round game at the Shanghai Masters.
Kyrgios left the court without explanation after he lost the opening set on a tie-break against American Steve Johnson.
Later he posted a statement on social media, where he mentioned a stomach bug and a sore shoulder as reasons for his Shanghai Masters exit. The tweet later appeared to have been deleted from his account.
The Aussie will not be paid his first-round prize money as he refused to undergo a medical examination that could have confirmed the player’s health problems. He will also receive a $10,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct as he hurled two balls out of court and had an altercation with umpire Fergus Murphy.
Last year, Kyrgios received a two-month suspension for a similar violation that occurred at the same venue, after he gave up his second round match against Germany’s Mischa Zverev and rowed with spectators.
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Back then, Kyrgios was widely criticized for putting no effort into a match that ended in favor of his German opponent 6-3, 6-1. The punishment was later reduced to three weeks following an agreement that the player will consult a sports psychologist.
Tuesday’s incident comes just two days after Kyrgios was beaten by Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal in the final of the China Open.