Tanking in tennis is a controversial practice where players deliberately give less than full effort during a match.
While professional players might occasionally need to conserve energy strategically, outright tanking is considered a serious violation of the sport’s code of conduct and can result in substantial penalties, including fines, suspensions, and mandatory counseling.
One of the most notable tanking incidents occurred at the 2016 Shanghai Masters, involving Nick Kyrgios. The Australian player showed minimal effort during his second-round match, even asking the umpire to end the match early so he could go home.
His behavior extended to confrontational exchanges with spectators and disparaging comments about paying fans.
The consequences were significant: he received a $16,500 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct and lack of effort, plus an additional $25,000 ATP penalty. He was also suspended from the tournament and required to see a sports psychologist before returning to play.
The enforcement of tanking rules remains challenging for tennis authorities. Proving deliberate lack of effort can be difficult, and penalties aren’t always consistently applied across all players. The sport continues to struggle with balancing the need to maintain competitive integrity while acknowledging that players sometimes must make tactical decisions about managing their energy during matches.
This creates an ongoing debate about where to draw the line between strategic play and unacceptable tanking behavior.