Nick Kyrgios fined and stripped of prize money after early Shanghai Masters retirement
After losing the first set in his first-round encounter with Steve Johnson, the mercurial 22-year-old walked off court without offering any initial explanation as to why
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Your support makes all the difference.Nick Kyrgios has been fined $10,000 (approximately £7,500) and stripped of his first-round prize money after controversially retiring mid-match against Steve Johnson at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.
After losing the first set in his first-round encounter with the American, the mercurial 22-year-old walked off court without offering any initial explanation as to why.
He later blamed a stomach bug on his retirement but did not seek medical help on court and then defied ATP Tour rules by not undertaking a medical examination afterwards.
As such, tour officials have fined Kyrgios $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and taken away his first-round prize money which amounts to roughly £16,000.
Kyrgios had cut a frustrated figure in the clash and was notably heard complaining about umpire Fergus Murphy’s decision-making.
After being given a point penalty for an audible obscenity during the tie-break, the Australian was then heard to say he would quit if he lost the tie-break.
Explaining his withdrawal after the match, Kyrgios said: "I want to apologise to the fans in Shanghai and those that watched around the world on TV today.
"I've been battling a stomach bug for the last 24 hours and I tried to be ready, but I was really struggling on the court today, which I think was pretty evident from the first point.
"My shoulder started to hurt in the practice today, which didn't help either, and once I lost the first set I was just not strong enough to continue because I've not eaten much for the past 24 hours."
This is the second year in a row where Kyrgios has found himself in hot water in Shanghai.
Twelve months ago he was fined more than $50,000 (approximately £38,000) and banned from the ATP Tour for a lack of effort in his second-round match against Mischa Zverev, during which he argued with the umpire and fans.
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