Nick Kyrgios has time on his side to learn he should not waste his talent | Jacob Steinberg

The Australian’s lack of respect for his sport has rightly been clamped down upon, and while he is the only one to blame it would still be a shame if he was lost to the game

Now that the authorities have cracked down on his persistent poor behaviour, the question for Nick Kyrgios to answer – and hopefully it is one that he will be asking himself during his unexpected sabbatical – is whether he owes it to himself to explore the outer reaches of his vast talent. In the end, it is not about you, me or the paying punters he so disrespected with his shameful exhibition of indolence against Mischa Zverev in Shanghai last week, the sheer egregiousness of which compelled the ATP to slap Kyrgios with a suspension that has been a long time coming.

Those of us who enjoy the theatre of Kyrgios at his best, having thrilled at the insouciance of his breakthrough victory over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon two years ago, would find it immensely disappointing to watch him fade away, but we would soon move on with our lives.

Related: Nick Kyrgios suspended until mid-January by ATP over Shanghai conduct

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