Nick Kyrgios faces suspension after meltdown at Miami Open

He’s lived on the edge for so long, but has Nick Kyrgios finally overstepped the mark with his Miami meltdown? One former umpire certainly thinks so and wants the book thrown at him.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 29: Nick Kyrgios of Australia slams his racket in his match against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 29, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Former umpire Richard Ings says disrespect of officials in tennis is “out of control” and the ATP needs to respond to Nick Kyrgios’s Miami meltdown by backing its officials and suspending the volatile star.

Kyrgios skated close to a match default against young gun Jannik Sinner after being penalised a point, then a game, by umpire Carlos Bernardes following a tirade of abuse and another racquet-smashing episode in his fourth-round loss.

Ings, a former executive vice-president (rules and competition) for the ATP tour and experienced chair umpire backed the actions of Brazilian umpire Bernardes, who penalised Kyrgios a point after he was branded an “absolute clown” by the Aussie during the first-set tie-breaker.

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Nick Kyrgios slams his racket in his match against Jannik Sinner of Italy during the Miami Open. Photo: Getty Images

Kyrgios responded with another tirade after double faulting to lose the first set, then smashed his racquet, costing himself the first game of the second set.

He eventually lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 to Sinner.

Ings, took to social media after the match to praise Bernardes’ response.

“Well done Carlos Bernardes in fairly applying the ATP Code of a Conduct towards Nick Kyrgios,” Ings posted on Twitter.

“Now let’s see if the ATP back office starts supporting officials in the field by actually suspending someone. This on court disrespect of officials has gotten out of control.”

Well done Carlos Bernardes in fairly applying the ATP Code of a Conduct towards Nick Kyrgios

Now let’s see if the ATP back office starts supporting officials in the field by actually suspending someone

This on court disrespect of officials has gotten out of control.

— 💉 Richard Ings : 🇷🇺 stop attacking 🇺🇦 (@ringsau) March 29, 2022

The frustrating thing for me as a former ATP EVP Rules and Competition is that while player disrespect of officials on court is worse than I can recall, the standard of on court officiating is better than it’s ever been.

Players have never ever had better officiating.

Grow up

— 💉 Richard Ings : 🇷🇺 stop attacking 🇺🇦 (@ringsau) March 29, 2022

It’s not the first run-in Kyrgios has had with Bernardes, who also controlled his quarter-final loss at Indian Wells a fortnight ago after which Kyrgios lost his temper, hurling a racquet that almost hit a ball boy.

Kyrgios’s complaints about Bernardes have been rubbished by Ings though, who said officiating is better than it has ever been.

“The frustrating thing for me as a former ATP EVP (executive vice-president) Rules and Competition is that while player disrespect of officials on court is worse than I can recall, the standard of on court officiating is better than it’s ever been,” Ings said.

“Players have never ever had better officiating. Grow up.”

Kyrgios though doubled down on his on-court antics following the match, refusing to apologise despite facing severe disciplinary action.

Nick Kyrgios throws his racquet while playing Jannik Sinner during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo: Getty Images

“I just don’t think he (Bernardes) controls the crowd well at all,” Kyrgios told journalists after the match.

“For the point penalty, all I said to my team was that Matthew Reid, an ex-player, could do just as good a job. If that’s worth a point penalty at a Masters event, that is ridiculous in my opinion.

“When everyone in the crowd is booing an umpire and he is becoming the centre of attention, that is not his job. No one in the stadium came to see him talk or do what he does.”

He went on with things on social media as well, posting on Twitter his code violation for unsportsmanlike behaviour came because Bernardes’ “feelings got hurt”.

‘You could do the job of the umpire’ - what was said to my best friend that got me ‘unsportsmanlike code violation’ at 5-3 in the first set tie break. With 100 of thousands of dollars on the line that was the decision he made because the umpires ‘feelings got hurt. GET NEW PEOPLE

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) March 29, 2022

Don’t get it twisted. I got mad respect for @janniksin ⚡️⚡️ he is one of my favourite players and he was TOO GOOD. I am aiming all of this at an umpire who clearly ISNT GOOD ENOUGH to be doing these matches. Nothing but a slap on the wrist for him right? What a joke.

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) March 30, 2022

“ ‘You could do the job of the umpire’ – what was said to my best friend that got me ‘unsportsmanlike code violation’ at 5-3 in the first set tie break. With 100 of thousands of dollars on the line that was the decision he made because the umpires ‘feelings got hurt. GET NEW PEOPLE,” Kyrgios posted.

While he praised Sinner’s efforts during the match, Kyrgios claimed the crowd in Miami was there to watch him.

“You’ve got Jannik Sinner who is one of our greatest stars and, not to toot my horn, the majority of people are there to watch me play,” Kyrgios told reporters after the match.

And he continued to play the victim.

Nick Kyrgios argues with ATP chair umpire Carlos Bernardes of Brazil during the first set in his match against Jannik Sinner. Photo: Getty Images

“I don’t think it’s fair and I hate bringing the same things up all the time,” he said.

“But (Denis) Shapovalov nailed a ball in someone’s eyeball (during a Davis Cup match in 2017) and got fined $5,000.

“I threw a racquet at Indian Wells and didn’t even hit anyone and got $25,000.

“Where is the balance? How much do I bring to the sport? That’s the problem with tennis – it doesn’t protect our stars at all. We love to outcast them.

“I have one incident where I threw a racquet which didn’t hit anyone, I know it can be dangerous but I went back the next day and apologised to the kid,” Kyrgios said. “He will remember that for the rest of his life.” Meanwhile, Kyrgios said, Bernardes would get “a slap on the wrist” for a “horrendous” performance.

“The ATP won’t do anything about him,” Kyrgios said.

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios faces suspension after meltdown at Miami Open