Nick Kyrgios fined for behaviour in Shanghai Masters defeat by Zverev

Nick Kyrgios has been fined $16,500 (£13,535) for his behaviour during his second-round match defeat by Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Masters.

On Thursday, the Association of Tennis Professionals announced that Kyrgios received the maximum possible fine of $10,000 (£8,000) for showing a “lack of best efforts” in the match, as well as a $5,000 (£4,000) fine for the verbal abuse of a spectator and a $1,500 (£1,230) fine for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Kyrgios rushed through his 6-3, 6-1 loss to Zverev on Wednesday without putting much effort behind his serves or groundstrokes. During the match, the 21-year-old walked towards his chair after floating a serve across the net without even waiting for Zverev to return it.

The Australian, known for his on-court antics, also argued with a fan who questioned his sportsmanship during the match.

Afterwards, Krygios claimed he was tired. “It was just tough. Obviously I played a lot of matches in a row. Physically tired, mentally tired,” he said.

“That’s why I’m trying to work on being able to be consistent every week. Just took the easy way out tonight and obviously didn’t show up at all. I wasn’t so much frustrated. I just tapped out a little bit, I guess.”

Asked about the confrontation with the spectator, Kyrgios said: “I feel like if they knew what they were talking about they’d be on the tennis court and being successful as well. I can’t really understand it at all. They don’t know what I’m going through, so no, I don’t understand it.”