By Megan Levy
- Wally Masur leaps to the defence of Nick Kyrgios
- Donna Vekic: The player at the centre of the Kyrgios slur
- Kyrgios delivered second sexual sledge
- Nick Kyrgios fined for 'banged your girlfriend' sledge
- Aussie star sledges Stan Wawrinka
- Kyrgios' mother reveals why he said it
A contrite Nick Kyrgios has apologised for a brutal sledge he delivered towards his opponent Stanislas Wawrinka during a tennis match in Canada, saying his comments were "unacceptable on many levels".
The 20-year-old Canberran, who has been plagued by controversy throughout his short professional career, publicly apologised to the French Open champion on Facebook and Twitter, saying he made the comments in the heat of the moment.
"In addition to the private apology I've made, I would like to make a public apology as well. I take full responsibility for my actions and regret what happened," Kyrgios wrote.
Kyrgios went into damage control after courtside microphones at the Rogers Cup match in Montreal captured him muttering disparaging remarks towards 30-year-old Wawrinka about his girlfriend.
Brouhaha: Nick Kyrgios has not apologised to Wawrinka's liking.Credit: Getty Images
"Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that mate," Kyrgios could be heard saying.
He was referring to his Australian colleague Thanasi Kokkinakis and 19-year-old Croatian player Donna Vekic, who has reportedly been dating Wawrinka following the end of his marriage to Ilham Vuilloud earlier this year.
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) issued Kyrgios with a $10,000 fine, the maximum allowed for such an offence, following his on-court remarks.
Kyrgios won Wednesday's contest after the Swiss retired hurt.
Kyrgios slur: Donna Vekic watches Stan Wawrinka in action at Wimbledon.Credit: Getty Images
Speaking on court immediately after the match, Kyrgios claimed he had been provoked, saying: "He was getting a bit lippy with me. Kind of in the heat of the moment, I don't know. I just said it."
Kyrgios' online apology attracted more than 1000 comments on Facebook in just two hours, the vast majority of them lashing him for his on-court behaviour.
'To stoop so low is not only unacceptable but also beyond belief': Stan Wawrinka blasted Nick Kyrgios for the sledge after their recent match.Credit: AP
He was described variously as being "unsportsmanlike", "disrespectful", "immature" and "a disgrace".
"Poor sportsmanship. Disrespectful on so many levels. Good players don't need to stoop this low," one person said.
Another wrote: "Lost all respect for you. An immature and unnecessary shot at a peer. A disgrace to a very classy sport."
One woman wrote: "Loved watching you when u first came on the scene, I find you appalling and feel embarrased for you by your moronic behavior."
Others said Kyrgios also needed to also apologise to Vekic and Kokkinakis, who were unwittingly dragged into a controversy that is making international headlines. Vekic and Kokkinakis played doubles together at the Australian Open last year.
"Have you apologized to the woman you totally disrespected as well? Your behaviour continues to disrespect the entire sport of tennis," one person wrote.
Another said: "To bring someone else's gf into it when she has nothing to do with the match shows that you have no class. None."