Nick Kyrgios misbehaves again to move closer to a ban

'I didn’t think I behaved bad at all out there today. I thought I was good mentally'

(Getty Images)

Nick Kyrgios took another possible step towards suspension when he was given a third code violation in six days during a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat here by Kei Nishikori.

The 20-year-old Australian was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after nearly hitting a line judge when he slapped a ball away in frustration after a serve was called out. Mohamed Lahyani, the umpire, had previously spoken to him about his bad language.

Kyrgios tried unsuccessfully to plead his case with a tour supervisor. “I didn’t hit the ball in anger,” he insisted afterwards. “I just hit it. I didn’t think it was worthy of a code [violation].”

Having been put on probation for six months when he was fined in the summer for sledging Stan Wawrinka, Kyrgios will be banned for 28 days from any ATP-sanctioned event (but not the Australian Open in January) if he incurs any fines for verbal or physical abuse or accumulates fines totalling more than $5,000 (£3,200) for any offences at ATP tournaments before 24 February.

The world No 32, who has two more tournaments to play before the end of the current season, was fined $1,500 for an audible obscenity in his first-round match here. He will learn today whether he has been fined again.

Kyrgios said he was “not concerned at all” about a suspension. “If it happens, it happens,” he said. “I didn’t think I behaved bad at all out there today. I thought I was good mentally.”