The ATP is investigating Nick Kyrgios’s claims that the governing body of men’s tennis is corrupt.
Kyrgios made the sensational allegation in the aftermath of his first-round US Open win over Steve Johnson in New York on Tuesday night.
The tennis firebrand was asked what he thought about being fined a record $US113,000 ($A167,000) for his spectacular meltdown in Cincinnati earlier this month.
“The ATP is pretty corrupt anyway. I’m not fussed about it at all,” he said.
“I was fined 113,000 K for what? Why are we talking about something that happened three weeks ago when I just chopped up someone first round of a US Open?”
In addition to the massive fine, the ATP was already considering also banning Kyrgios for a second time.
His latest allegations are almost certain to force his employers’ hand and earn the 24-year-old an enforced break from the game.
“The comments made by Nick Kyrgios after his first round match in New York will be assessed under the Player Major Offense provision under ATP Rules,” the ATP said in a statement to AAP on Wednesday.
“A determination will be made by Gayle David Bradshaw, Executive Vice President, Rules & Competition, following an investigation as required by ATP rules.”
Kyrgios has a lengthy rap sheet stretching back four years.
But US Open officials had given him the green light to play the final grand slam of the year despite tennis chiefs continuing to weigh up whether or not the temperamental talent should be rubbed out for his outburst in Cincinnati.
Believed to be the biggest fine in the sport’s history, Kyrgios was slapped with separate penalties for an audible obscenity, ball abuse, verbal abuse towards the umpire, leaving the court and four counts of unsportsmanlike conduct during his explosive second-round loss to Karen Khachanov.
Despite being under scrutiny at Flushing Meadows, Kyrgios was unrepentant after progressing to the second round in straight sets.
“Have you ever sworn at someone before?” he countered at a journalist.
“You’re not an elite athlete.”
Asked if he was saying it was acceptable for elite athletes to swear, he said: “No, I’m just saying people get frustrated. It happens.”
Kyrgios has already been banned once, in late 2016 after tanking in Shanghai, and ordered to undergo counselling.
Adding to Kyrgios’s troubles was a fan tweeting vulgar video footage of him courtside after his win over Johnson.
“Always classy Nick Kyrgios. Wipes his sweat, crotch, armpits, then spits in a towel, right before throwing it to some fans. Real cool @NickKyrgios ?? the fan posted.
The US Open is run independently but a USTA official told AAP pre-tournament that organisers of the season’s final grand slam would follow the ATP’s lead when asked if Kyrgios could be banned.
The 24-year-old is due to face Frenchman Antoine Hoang on Thursday for a place in the last 32.