MELBOURNE • Australia's tempestuous talent Nick Kyrgios has the potential to be a future Grand Slam champion but could just as easily be lost to the sport if he fails to get the support he needs, according to former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.

Kyrgios, 21, was suspended for eight weeks by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) on Monday following his second-round exit at the Shanghai Masters, where he clashed with fans, the chair umpire and walked off the court midway through a point against Mischa Zverev.

The ban can be reduced to three weeks if he sees a sports psychologist, which Kyrgios had committed to, according to Australia's tennis association.

"I wouldn't be surprised (if he quit) but hopefully that's not the case," Cash told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"Anybody's got the opportunity to walk away but if it's not good for his health then I think he should do that."

The 51-year-old Australian Cash, a notable hothead during the early part of his career, said Kyrgios was "flat and exhausted" when he arrived in Shanghai and should never have played the tournament. World No. 14 Kyrgios won the Japan Open, his third and best title of his career, days before his Shanghai explosion.

Cash questioned the advice the Canberra native was receiving on Tour and claimed Tennis Australia (TA) had failed to provide young players with the mental support to deal with the grind of the professional circuit.

"Mental health and understanding of where you are as a junior should be as mandatory as hitting forehands and doing stretching before and after a practice session," he said. "I've talked to Tennis Australia about it and nothing has been done."

TA dismissed Cash's criticism as "incorrect," saying sports psychologists were available for players in every state.

"Sometimes they have access to two or three of them," TA spokesman Todd Woodbridge, the 22-time Grand Slam doubles champion, said.

"Tennis Australia's support is as strong, if not stronger than for any other (sport's) in the country."

Cash added that Kyrgios was "the next guy" in line for Grand Slam glory once proven winners like Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, both 29, bowed out.

"And who is standing up there? Well, Nick's the obvious one," he said. "You tend to see after a great year, a bit of a lull, and (then) he's got a great opportunity to grab a couple of Grand Slam titles and really be a success."

REUTERS