Nick Kyrgios: The crazy story so far

Kyrgios during his Australian Open meltdown against Italian Andreas Seppi. Photo / Antoine Couvercelle

The Nick Kyrgios train wreck is back on track, after a meltdown during a five set loss to Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open. Tanking, code violations, swearing, racquet hurling...it was the Kyrgios smorgasbord.

A potted history of the young Australian's twists and tantrums include.-

Claimed he was calling himself "dirty scum" rather than abusing an umpire at Wimbledon in 2015, having threatened a sit down strike over a line call.

Kyrgios said: "The sport needs characters. I feel like it's good when you see someone that's raw and just plays the game the way they play it, doesn't really worry about other stuff when they're out there."

This tournament included a famous "tank" against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, giving up against some serves, and abusing an umpire by saying "Does it feel strong to be in the chair?"

Having spent the 2015 tournament giving umpires a hard time, Kyrgios brushed the dust from an official's jacket at the coin toss before his win over Milos Raonic. But he still managed to snap at a spectator and bounce-smash his racket into the stands and stood by a ball boy to receive a serve during a brilliant performance.

All in a day's work for the crazy Aussie.

"When I feel relaxed and I'm playing around, I think that's when I play my best tennis," he said, thanking a spectator who kept telling him to "hit a bullet".

He was booed off the court for tanking - not trying - during his hasty defeat to German qualifier Mischa Zverev at last year's Shanghai Masters, copping an eight week ban and $55,000 fine for his troubles.

Twitter reports claimed he asked the umpire "can you call time so I can finish this match and go home?". He copped a code violation and was told by umpire Ali Nilli: "You can't play like that, OK? That's not professional ...we have to act professional and play with your best effort the whole time."

Sportsbet refunded punters, while Kyrgios - showing rare contrition - agreed to see a sports psychologist.

Not good enough today on many levels, I'm better than that. I can go on about excuses but there are none. Sorry #StillAWorkInProgress 🙏🏽😢😞

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) October 12, 2016

JUSTICE REFUND!
We've refunded bets on Nick Kyrgios after tonight's 'effort' in the #ATPShangai Masters! 😦🎾

*T&Cs apply pic.twitter.com/BleaO3GfjS

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) October 12, 2016

Kyrgios pulled out of next month's Rotterdam Open so he can play in the NBA All-Star Celebrity basketball game in New Orleans. Rotterdam tournament director Richard Krajick was pragmatic, saying a disinterested Kyrgios would have been no good.

"You see what can happen when he is tired and (tennis) has little meaning, as in China. We do not want that. So we decided to terminate his contract."

Kyrgios was an Australian youth basketballer and has said he prefers playing that sport to tennis.

He tweeted his support form countryman Bernard Tomic by bagging Tennis Australia performance director Pat Rafter. "Another negative comment out of Rafters mouth. Does this guy ever stop?" But he deleted this.

Things got very weird at the 2015 Montreal Open, when he told opponent Stan Wawrinka "Kokkinakas banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that mate." He didn't sound very sorry. Wawrinka retorted: "So disappointing to see a fellow athlete and colleague be so disrespectful in a way could never even imagine...beyond belief'.

Was fined twice for swearing at last year's Wimbledon.

Kyrgios accused umpire Carlos Ramos of "unbelievable bias" and said a decision was "f**king bulls**t" at last year's French Open.