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Sydney - Troubled Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has
indicated he will play fewer tournaments in 2017 after his meltdown at the
Shanghai Masters saw him slapped with an eight-week ban.
The world number 14, who gave away points and swore and
argued with fans before being booed off court after his second-round defeat in
China last week, blamed his body giving up physically and mentally.
It led to the ATP ordering a $25 000 fine and the ban, which
can be reduced to three weeks if the 21-year-old sees a psychologist, which
Tennis Australia said he had agreed to do.
In a question-and-answer session on Twitter on Wednesday, the
suspended star was asked what his goals were for next year. "More time
off," he replied.
He was also questioned on whether he enjoyed playing tennis,
to which he answered: "lol".
The Shanghai outburst was the latest incident involving the Australian. Last year he was given a suspended one-month ban for making comments to Swiss star Stan Wawrinka about his girlfriend.
If he goes through with his commitment to seek help for his
temper, he could return to the tour on November 7, after the three-week ban.
But with no more tournaments to play then, his year is
effectively over.
Asked on Twitter what his biggest win of the year was, he replied: "Just beat Ajla in a backhand to backhand game," referring to his girlfriend, fellow tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic, despite claiming titles in Tokyo, Atlanta and Marseille.
