Following his recent meltdown at the Shanghai Masters, Australian tennis player, Nick Kyrgios was handed an eight-week ban and fined $25 000 by the ATP.

Kyrgios, who literally went from hero to zero in one week, was accused of “tanking” his match against Mischa Zverev, in which he lost 6-3 6-1. He was also fined $16 000 after receiving a code violation for swearing.

Kyrgios denied “tanking” the match and put his listless performance down to mental fatigue and a sore arm.

The ban means that he will only be able to return to the tour on 15 January 2017, a day before the 2017 Australian Open gets underway at Melbourne Park.

The ATP has however thrown him a lifeline, stating that if he consults with a sports psychologist, they will reduce the ban to three weeks, which will enable him to return in November. Tennis Australia has confirmed that they will give him advice.

No stranger to controversies

The World No. 14 is no stranger to controversies.

In 2015, he was also accused of “tanking” a match at Wimbledon and then received a 28 day ban and $10 000 fine after he made inappropriate remarks about Stan Wawrinka’s girlfriend during their Rogers Cup match.

Kyrgios has moved from No. 52 to No. 14 in two years so it is clear that there is no lack of talent on his part. He just needs to smooth the rough edges if he wants to become a Top 10 player and a force to be reckoned with going forward.

He should take a leaf out of John McEnroe’s book. McEnroe was the then “bad boy” of tennis but always showed up to play.