https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJRJkpXfUxA
The U.S. Open doesn’t begin until Aug. 31, but the hardcourt tennis season is already heating up. The ATP fined Australian Nick Kyrgios a total of $12,500 Thursday for his unsportsmanlike comments directed toward Swiss star Stan Wawrinka during their second-round match at the Rogers Cup on Wednesday in Montreal. Kyrgios has also been served with a “Notice of Investigation” which begins a process to determine if his actions also constitute a violation of the Player Major Offence provisions set forth under “Aggravated Behavior” or “Conduct Contrary to the Integrity of the Game.” “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend, sorry to tell you that,” Kyrgios shouted across the net, referring to fellow Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis. Trailing 4-0 in the decisive third set, Wawrinka retired citing a back injury, leaving Kyrgios to advance to play American John Isner. On Thursday, Kyrgios apologized on his Facebook page: “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the comments I made during the match last night vs Stan Wawrinka. My comments were made in the heat of the moment and were unacceptable on many levels. In addition to the private apology I’ve made, I would like to make a public apology as well. I take full responsibility for my actions and regret what happened.” Wawrinka, who won this year’s French Open to capture his second Grand Slam, told the press that Kyrgios tried to avoid him in the locker room afterward. “He tried to avoid me but I confronted him anyway,” Wawrinka said in French. Asked what he said, Wawrinka responded, “It will stay in the locker room. But I think there are things, regardless of how you are, regardless of the stress you have on the court, there are things that you just can’t say. “And regardless of whether or not he sidesteps it, I think the way he behaves on the court, he has big problems.” For more from Stan, watch this video:
The U.S. Open doesn’t begin until Aug. 31, but the hardcourt tennis season is already heating up. The ATP fined Australian Nick Kyrgios a total of $12,500 Thursday for his unsportsmanlike comments directed toward Swiss star Stan Wawrinka during their second-round match at the Rogers Cup on Wednesday in Montreal. Kyrgios has also been served with a “Notice of Investigation” which begins a process to determine if his actions also constitute a violation of the Player Major Offence provisions set forth under “Aggravated Behavior” or “Conduct Contrary to the Integrity of the Game.” “Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend, sorry to tell you that,” Kyrgios shouted across the net, referring to fellow Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis. Trailing 4-0 in the decisive third set, Wawrinka retired citing a back injury, leaving Kyrgios to advance to play American John Isner. On Thursday, Kyrgios apologized on his Facebook page: “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the comments I made during the match last night vs Stan Wawrinka. My comments were made in the heat of the moment and were unacceptable on many levels. In addition to the private apology I’ve made, I would like to make a public apology as well. I take full responsibility for my actions and regret what happened.” Wawrinka, who won this year’s French Open to capture his second Grand Slam, told the press that Kyrgios tried to avoid him in the locker room afterward. “He tried to avoid me but I confronted him anyway,” Wawrinka said in French. Asked what he said, Wawrinka responded, “It will stay in the locker room. But I think there are things, regardless of how you are, regardless of the stress you have on the court, there are things that you just can’t say. “And regardless of whether or not he sidesteps it, I think the way he behaves on the court, he has big problems.” For more from Stan, watch this video:
