Nick Kyrgios cops huge fine and is facing suspension for abusing a chair umpire in epic meltdown

Another disgraceful tantrum and Nick Kyrgios has been slapped with heavy sanctions and could face a total ban for his foul-mouthed tirade in Cincinnati.

Nick Kyrgios could be suspended for his meltdown. Picture: Getty

Nick Kyrgios has copped a heavy fine and faces a possible suspension for verbally abusing the chair umpire during his second-round defeat to Karen Khachanov at the Cincinnati Masters.

Kyrgios has been fined by the ATP for eight offences, totalling $167,000.

The 24-year-old Australian won the opening set against his Russian opponent, despite foot and ankle issues, before unleashing a profanity-laced tirade at Irish umpire Fergus Murphy, throwing his towel over a camera and forcing broadcasters of the US event to switch to an overhead view.

During the match, Kyrgios:

* called the Irish umpire a “potato”

* smashed two racquets in a players’ tunnel, as a linesman took cover behind a door

* smashed a bottle into the court

* yelled abuse and obscenities from his players’ seat including calling Murphy a “f---ing tool”

* appeared to spit towards Murphy and refused to shake his hand.

The offences range from $3000 to $20,000 each for violations such as unsportsmanlike conduct, verbal abuse and audible obscenity.

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Nick Kyrgios could be suspended for his meltdown. Picture: Getty

Kyrgios took umbrage with Murphy, who he has previous history with, over his monitoring of the shot clock and berated the Irishman for most of the match.

He became obsessed with the issue, repeatedly calling Murphy a “potato” and labelling him a “disgrace” and the “worst ref in the world”.

Murphy eventually responded by handing Kyrgios a point violation after Khachanov won the second-set tiebreaker to level the match, when the Canberran overstepped the mark by screaming out an obscenity.

Kyrgios then followed this up by asking for a toilet break. He took two racquets with him and smashed them in the players’ tunnel before returning to the court.

After a double-fault handed Khachanov the match and the players shook hands, Kyrgios told

Murphy “you’re a f---ing tool bro” and appeared to spit in the direction of the umpire before he shunned the traditional handshake.

“The ATP is looking further into what happened during and immediately after the match to see if additional action is warranted under the Player Major Offense section of the code. That could result in an additional fine and/or suspension,” the game’s governing body said in a statement on Thursday.

Australian tennis great Mark Woodforde is disturbed by Kyrgios’ latest meltdown.

“What was frightening for me was the kids after the match leaning over the fence around centre court wanting Kyrgios’ shoes, they were wanting the mangled rackets… that shouldn’t be happening after the display he displayed. That to me is troubling. That’s not the model for young kids,” he told 5AA.

“This is a habit now for Nick. It’s not really getting any better… the level of his outbursts are starting to get a little bigger and it’s disappointing.”

Australian compatriot Alex de Minaur also bowed out of the Ohio tournament, losing 7-5 6-4 to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.