By Sam Phillips
Pat Rafter has joined fellow Australian tennis icon Rod Laver in calling for Nick Kyrgios to be suspended for his latest series of outbursts during the US hardcourt season.
Kyrgios has already been fined for $167,000 for his meltdown at the Cincinnati Masters last month, where he appeared to call umpire Fergus Murphy a "f---ing tool" and smashed two racquets during a bathroom break Murphy tried to stop him from taking.
Nick Kyrgios is a huge hit with tennis audiences.Credit: Getty Images
Asked about the fine after his first round victory at the US Open, Kyrgios said: "The ATP is pretty corrupt anyway."
He took to Twitter to clarify the comments a day later but remains the subject of an ATP investigation.
There is no fixed timeline as to when the ATP will hand any further punishment down but Rafter on Monday joined Laver - who earlier this month endorsed a suspension for Kyrgios - at the launch of the ATP Cup.
"I don’t understand why it hasn’t happened," Rafter said when asked if Kyrgios should be suspended.
"There is obviously something else going on behind the scenes. I don’t know.
"On paper it looks like he should be suspended, to me."
Kyrgios remains a crowd-pulling drawcard for tournament organisers and Rafter queried that may influence the ATP's decision to suspend the 24-year-old.
"That’s the other thing. He draws a crowd," Rafter said.
"But at what stage do you say the crowd is more important? Or are you trying to uphold a certain standard or protocol for players to adhere to."
Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter have a frosty relationship with Nick Kyrgios.Credit: AAP
Kyrgios, ranked higher than any other Australian man at No.27, presents a headache for Tennis Australia as the country prepares to play host to the new ATP Cup in January.
One of the quirks of the event is that the highest ranked player from each country will pick their team captain.
Given Kyrgios has a frosty relationship with both Rafter and current Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, it's hard to envisage the outspoken star would select either to lead their team for the tournament, which starts on January 3.
Nick Kyrgios is awaiting the outcome of ATP investigations to know whether he will be suspended from the tour. Credit: AP
Rafter is certain he won't be called upon should Kyrgios remain top Australian player come the November 13 deadline and Hewitt wouldn't be drawn on the matter.
"This is a great event to be a part of. I think to have any small involvement - whether that is as a captain, commentator, ambassador - whatever it may be," Hewitt said.
"I love getting our great sport and playing the best possible tennis we can at the elite level, here in our country."
The ATP Cup will bring every member of the current top-10 ranked male players in the world - and 27 of the top 30 - to Sydney, Brisbane and Perth between January 3 and 12.
There will be 24 countries split between six groups of four, with the winners of their group all progressing to the final eight alongside the best two second-placed teams.
Each tie will be a best-of-three format involving two singles clashes and one doubles match.
Australia has been drawn in Group F alongside Germany, Greece and Canada at Brisbane's Pat Rafter Arena.
Roger Federer will be the main drawcard in the group stage in Sydney as Switzerland have been drawn in Group C alongside Great Britain, Belgium and a wildcard which will be determined in November.