Nick Kyrgios escapes fines for swearing and ball abuse during first-round Australian Open loss

Nick Kyrgios can consider himself lucky he hasn’t been hit where it hurts for ball abuse and for swearing during his first-round loss to Milos Raonic but Grigor Dimitrov, Kei Nishikori and Dominic Thiem weren’t so fortunate.

Nick Kyrgios has escaped penalty for ball abuse and audible obscenities during his first-round defeat to Milos Raonic.

But several other big names — including Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori and Grigor Dimitrov — have been fined at the Australian Open.

Some spectators expected Kyrgios to be penalised for clouting a ball high into the stands during his first-round exit and there were also concerns over the Australian’s language.

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But Melbourne Park officials ruled otherwise.

But they were not so lenient elsewhere, doling out 28 fines totalling $78,257.

German Carina Witthoeft was hit with a $7600 fine for “first round performance”, a violation which relates to players performing to a professional standard in every grand slam match.

Witthoeft retired during first round qualifying when trailing Conny Perrin 1-5, having won only nine points.

Nick Kyrgios throws his racquet in frustration. Picture: Michael Klein

Kyrgios hasn’t been fined despite swearing during his loss. Picture: Michael Klein

Witthoeft originally earned $15,000 for the loss.

There was better news for Briton Katie Swan, who successfully appealed a $7600 penalty under the same offence.

Swan retired from first-round qualifying when trailing Canadian Bianca Andreescu 1-6.

Spain’s Paula Badosa Gibert was hit with a $6950 fine for coaching offences.

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On the men’s side, Austrian eighth seed Thiem’s second-round defeat to Australian teenager Alexei Popyrin was salted by a $5500 fine for racquet abuse.

Dimitrov ($2500 for coaching), Nishikori and Jordan Thompson ($1000 each for time breaches) were also among those fined.