AFP/Montreal

Controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios apologised to Stan Wawrinka yesterday for an obscene sexual remark he made on court during their Montreal Masters clash.
The 20-year-old  made his apology just after being fined for the ugly incident which has sent shockwaves through the sport and led to calls for Kyrgios to face heavy sanctions. “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the comments I made during the match last night v Stan Wawrinka,” Kyrgios wrote on Facebook. “My comments were made in the heat of the moment and were unacceptable on many levels.  In addition to the private apology I’ve made, I would like to make a public apology as well. I take full responsibility for my actions and regret what happened.”
On-court microphones picked up a sexual slur over Wawrinka’s girlfriend by Kyrgios who said that the woman had been involved with his close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Kyrgios was yesterday fined a so-far undisclosed amount for the crude sexual remark. A brief statement from the sanctioning body said that further details would be forthcoming after the controversial Australian was notified of the punishment. French Open champion Wawrinka demanded action over “beyond belief” comments made by Kyrgios about his “girlfriend” during the pair’s match on Wednesday.
On-court microphones picked up a sexual slur over Wawrinka’s girlfriend by the 20-year-old Australian during a changeover during their second-round match won by Kyrgios. Kyrgios said that the woman had been involved with his close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis.  “Sorry to tell you that mate,” Kyrgios is heard to say.
Earlier, Kyrgios defended his action with Wawrinka after the match. “He was getting a bit lippy with me. Kind of in the heat of the moment, I don’t know, I just said it,” said the Australian.
Wawrinka reacted with fury. “There is no need for this kind of behaviour on or off the court and I hope the governing body of this sport does not stand for this and stands up for the integrity of this sport that we have worked so hard to build,” Wawrinka said in a Twitter statement.
“So disappointing to see a fellow athlete and colleague be so disrespectful in a way I could never even imagine. What was said I wouldn’t say to my worst enemy. To stoop so low is not only unacceptable but also beyond belief,” the Swiss player added.
Kyrgios was due back on court later last night when he takes on John Isner of the United States for a place in the quarter-finals. By that stage, the amount of Kyrgios’s fine will be known.
“The ATP has announced that Nick Kyrgios has been fined for an insulting remark made to Stan Wawrinka during his second round match against Wawrinka at the Rogers Cup in Montreal,” said an ATP statement. “Further details of the fine will be made after Kyrgios has been notified.”
The comments, which have sent shockwaves through the sport, were made after the first set on Wednesday which Kyrgios won 7-6 (10/8). Wawrinka won the second set 6-4, but withdrew with back problems when he was losing the third set 4-0.
Wawrinka, 30, split from his wife earlier this year and has been linked to Croatian tour player Donna Vekic. “It’s not the first time that he has big problems on court in terms of what he says and in terms of how he acts. I hope the governing body does not stand for this,” added Wawrinka.
Kyrgios, whose Twitter motto is “Play Your Own Rules”, has been the target of criticism from the tennis establishment several times for his on-court behaviour.  But Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt began a mentoring role with Kyrgios that started in Montreal. Hewitt and Kyrgios were beaten in the first round of the doubles.
At Wimbledon, Kyrgios drew jeers from the public as he apparently did not bother to compete for a game in the second set of his fourth-round defeat by Richard Gasquet. He also had problems with chair umpires on occasion during the fortnight. Wawrinka’s coach Magnus Norman, said in a tweet: “That was really really low Nick Kyrgios. Hope for u that u have people around that will teach u a thing or 2 about life tonight. Very bad??”