Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios received a suspended 16-week ban from the ATP on Thursday and was placed under a six-month probationary period for his recent on-court behaviour.
He has also been handed an additional fine of $25,000 for ‘aggravated behaviour’.
“The suspension will be lifted at the end of the six-month probationary period” if Kyrgios complies with several conditions mandated by tour organisers during this time, the ATP said in a statement.
Kyrgios had earlier pulled out of next week’s China Open because of a collarbone injury and said he would head home to Australia to recover.
The 24-year-old made the announcement a day on from his first-round exit at the Zhuhai Championships, after which he said that he could sit out the rest of the season because of the injury.
“Unfortunately a collarbone injury I sustained at Laver Cup has escalated and has forced me to pull out of the Asian swing,” Kyrgios, a colourful but controversial character, wrote on Twitter.
“I’ll be heading back to Australia to rest and recover. See you all soon,” added the 27th-ranked firebrand.
Kyrgios, who appears to revel in being the enfant terrible of tennis, looked set to stroll to victory over lower-ranked Andreas Seppi on Wednesday.
But his game imploded and he went down 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, having led 4-1 in the first set and seemingly on course for a comfortable victory.
Afterwards, he said that his right shoulder had been “clicking” and he had been unable to serve properly.