Nick Kyrgios has been banned by the ATP for his infamous tank at the Shanghai Masters

EXCLUSIVE: NICK Kyrgios apologised again after being slapped with a big suspension by the ATP for his embarrassing tanking effort at the Shanghai Masters. Find out how much time he will miss.

NICK Kyrgios has been sensationally booted off the tennis circuit after officials lost patience with the Australian firebrand following his petulant behaviour in Shanghai last week.

The first elite player to be suspended for behavioural issues since John McEnroe in 1987, Kyrgios has been handed an eight-week ban and a $32,900 fine after the ATP World Tour completed an investigation, following his remarkable Shanghai Masters tank.

OPINION: Why ATP had to ban ‘devastated’ Kyrgios

It is understood the ATP, governing body of men’s tennis, wanted to oust Kyrgios for 12 weeks but relented during negotiations.

Kyrgios could serve as few as three weeks if he meets certain conditions during the off-season, including consulting sports psychologists and life coaches.

Either way his season is over.

Kyrgios released a statement this evening, apologising for his poor effort in China.

“Following the ATP’s decision ... I would like to take this opportunity to apologise again for the circumstances in Shanghai,” the statement read.

A frustrated Nick Kyrgios during his Shanghai Masters tanking effort. Picture: AFP

“The season has been a long one as I battled several injuries and other challenges towards the end of the summer.

“The Asian circuit was particularly tough after the long week and win in Tokyo and with the travel throughout the continent, my body finally just gave out in Shanghai both physically and mentally.

“This is no excuse, and I know very well that I need to apologise to the fans – in Shanghai and in other parts of the world – as well as the tournament organisers in Shanghai who do an amazing job.”

He lamented that he would no longer be able to chase a place in the ATP finals.

“This was an important goal for me,” he wrote.

“I do understand and respect the decision by the ATP and I will use this time off to improve on and off the court. I am truly sorry and look forward to returning in 2017.

Please see my website for my statement on the ATP's decision -https://t.co/JP9ODpxWRs

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) October 17, 2016

Kyrgios paid tribute to fans, saying he loved interacting with them.

“I am someone who gives a huge amount of time to my fans because I love and value their support,” he wrote.

“Their energy is what motivates me to reach for the top of the game.”

Tennis Australia released a statement backing the ATP sanction.

“Nick’s health and wellbeing is a priority and the ATP has offered a reduced penalty on the provision that he seeks appropriate professional advice, which he has agreed to do,” the statement read.

“Nick understands the gravity of his actions, has shown remorse and expressed a willingness to improve.

“We believe it’s our responsibility to help Nick, along with all our young athletes, improve both professionally on court as a player, and personally.

“We have always offered assistance and advice to Nick and his team and will continue to do so.”

If Kyrgios serves the full eight weeks, he would not be eligible for a rankings point tournament until January 15 — the day before the 2017 Australian Open starts.

The hefty ban comes after the probe into Kyrgios’ bizarre performance in Shanghai, where he appeared to deliberately lose to German journeyman Mischa Zverev.

Officials also confirmed existing fines totalling $21,659 — including $13,127 for lack of effort, $6563 for verbal abuse of a spectator and $1969 for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The suspension means Kyrgios will not be able to play the $2.5 million Swiss Indoors in Basel and the $5.4 million BNP Paribas Masters in Paris this month.

He was also an outside chance of qualifying for the season-ending $9.8 million Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

ATP executive vice-president for rules and competition Gayle Bradshaw reviewed Kyrgios’ controversial antics and ruled the Canberran had failed to give his “best effort” during a 48-minute 6-3 6-1 shock loss.

The meltdown came only three days after Kyrgios won the biggest title of his career at the Japan Open — and is the latest in a growing catalogue of troubling episodes.

Nick Kyrgios celebrated the biggest title of his career earlier this month. He won’t get a chance at another one until next season. Picture: AFP

The Shanghai match descended into farce as Kyrgios argued with spectators after lamely tapping a serve before walking to his courtside chair while the ball was still in play.

His lack of effort saw him rebuked by umpire Ali Nili, who told him: “Nick, you can’t play like that. It’s just not professional. This is a professional tournament.”

Kyrgios, 21, responded: “Can you call time so I can finish this match and go home?”

As the match slipped away, Kyrgios barely sat at his courtside seat, taking only 10 seconds to change ends.

OPINION: Tennis fans should heed Kyrgios advice and stop attending his matches

Kyrgios then received a code violation warning from Nili for an audible obscenity, before he bickered with a fan.

With Zverev pacing the baseline and ready to serve for the match, Kyrgios told the spectator: “You wanna come here and play? Sit down and shut up and watch.”

Asked later if he understood the crowd’s frustration, Kyrgios said: “Not at all. 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.

“I don’t owe them anything. It’s my choice. If you don’t like it, I didn’t ask you to come watch. Just leave.

“If you’re so good at giving advice and so good at tennis, why aren’t you as good as me? Why aren’t you on the tour?’

“You want to buy a ticket? Come watch me. You know I’m unpredictable. It’s your choice. I don’t owe you anything. “Doesn’t affect how I sleep at night.”

The youngest player in the top 15, Kyrgios hinted at exhaustion.

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

MORE: Kyrgios cops huge fine for tank job

“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.”

The latest brush with officialdom is another unwanted milestone in Kyrgios’ short, volatile career.

He was roundly condemned last year after crudely sledging Stan Wawrinka, telling the grand slam champion “(Thanasi) Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend.”

He was hit with a $13,127 fine for thatoutburst and then and handed further penalties of $32,818 and a 28-day ban (both suspended pending further breaches) for “aggravated behaviour.

Kyrgios has also regularly attracted fines for unsportsmanlike behaviour and swearing at the major tournaments.