Nick Kyrgios to make first appearance at Western & Southern Open since 2019 meltdown

Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has received a wildcard entry to the Western & Southern Open, which is held in Cincinnati from August 13-21, 2022.

The former World No.13 reached his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final at this event five years ago, losing to Grigor Dimitrov. Two years later, matters turned upside down when Kyrgios received a record $113,000 fine in a meltdown that included several smashed racquets, verbal abuse and multiple instances of unsportsmanlike conduct during a second-round loss to Karen Khachanov. The ATP also responded by issuing a suspended 16-week ban.

The Canberra native has not played at the venue since that incident, though comes with a new title to his name: Wimbledon runner-up. Kyrgios is currently ranked No. 47, but did not receive any points from his maiden major final showing as a result of the ATP and WTA tours stripping ranking points away in response to the All England Club’s banning of Russian and Belarusian competitors.

Kyrgios is launching his US Open Series this week in Atlanta, where he triumphed in 2016.