Nick Kyrgios to make first Cincinnati appearance since viral 2019 meltdown

2019 FLASHBACK: Kyrgios racks up record fine

Mason, Ohio is home to Kings Island, an amusement park filled with rides. At the nearby Lindner Family Tennis Center, Nick Kyrgios has created his own rollercoaster in recent years.

On Monday, Kyrgios was awarded a main-draw wild card into the Western & Southern Open. The tournament served as the site of the Australian’s first Masters 1000 final in 2017, a run that included a straight-set win over Rafael Nadal.

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.