Nick Kyrgios is toning behaviour down a bit: Thanasi Kokkinakis

Nick Kyrgios collected a second code violation warning in a week for an audible obscenity before coming up with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Andreas Haider-Maurer in the first round of the Shanghai Masters at Qi Zhong Tennis Centre. Despite Kyrgios’ second code violation in a short period of time, fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis believes his tennis pal is trying to improve his on-court behaviour.

"To be fair I've been watching him and he's playing well and he's probably a bit more switched on then I've seen him before," Kokkinakis said, reports SBS . "He's not going to change completely and not not get frustrated but he's toning it down a bit."

After sledging Stan Wawrinka in August at the Montreal Masters, Kyrgios is now toying with suspension from ATP Tour. The 20-year-old Aussie will be banned for 28 days if he is again fined for any verbal or physical misconduct, or accumulates fines of $5000 (AU$6,847) or more during the next six months at any ATP sanctioned tournaments.

Kyrgios’ second code violation warning came in the second game of the second set, when the world No. 32 had run to attempt a forehand winner down the line on break point, blaming the “f------ surface,” which he had also criticised in set one.

Bernard Tomic arrived to watch the second set and seated in front of Kyrgios’ mother Nil. Kyrgios then turned to his Davis Cup teammate and said that the tournament match was an “absolute circus” because of a cameraman talking during points and the standard of inexperienced ball-kids, who were unsure where to stand and delivered unwanted balls to players.

Kyrgios earned his first code violation at the weekend after hitting a ball into the roof of the stadium during his 3-6 6-4 6-1 loss against France’s Benoit Paire in the quarterfinal round of the Japan Open. The Australian international will play world No. 6 Kei Nishikori of Japan in the second round of the eighth ATP Masters 1000 tournament this season, while Tomic will battle David Ferrer of Spain.

“Obviously Kei, he’s one of the best players in the world right now,” Kyrgios said, reports Fox Sports . “At the same time I’m going to go out there and enjoy the experience.”

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