Tennis "bad boy" Nick Kyrgios has been flirting with a 28-day suspension from ATP World Tour after receiving a code violation warning in three consecutive games. However, despite the looming suspension from ATP once he fully accrues US$5000 (AU$6849.79) in fines before February, Kyrgios still has a chance to continue his Australian Open prospects next season.

According to The Australian, an ATP spokesman noted that any suspension for Australia’s tennis teen star would not unfold during the “offseason” in December. “So it would begin at the beginning of the 2016 season as he wouldn’t be qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals,” the official said.

This means Kyrgios will be ineligible to compete at any official Australian Open lead-up events in Brisbane, Chennai, Doha, Auckland or Sydney, if he gets suspended within this year. However, the 20-year-old Aussie would still be able to participate in the opening grand slam of 2016 even if he is handed a suspension by the ATP, with the Australian Open being governed by the International Tennis Federation.

Kyrgios is also scheduled to play at the Valencia Open on Oct. 26 and the Paris Masters next month. The Australian explained that it would be better for Kyrgios to incur the suspension before the Parish Masters to avoid being sidelined in most of the Australian summer.

Krygios’ first attempt to flirt with ATP’s ban was during his quarterfinal loss against Benoit Paire at the Japan Open. It was followed by another on-court antic in his Shanghai Masters opener victory over Andreas Haider-Maurer, where he was warned for audible obscenity.

Kyrgios dodged a fine for his third code violation warning after slapping away a ball with his backhand, which nearly hit the central line judge during his 1-6 6-4 6-4 loss to Kei Nishikori in the second round of the Shanghai Masters. It was Kyrgios’ third straight game of misbehaving in a match, but the world no. 32 seems unfazed by the consequences of his recent actions.

"Not concerned at all,” Kyrgios said, regarding his suspension, reports the ABC. “If it happens, it happens.”

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