Nick Kyrgios is KICKED OUT of court for throwing a chair and kicking a bottle during Rome Open match

Nick Kyrgios was hit with a fine of 20,000 Euros (£17,000) with the threat of possible suspension on Thursday night after being defaulted earlier in the day from the Italian Open in a fit of rage.

The day after giving an explosive interview in which he admitted he 'can't stand' the 'cringeworthy' Novak Djokovic, the 24 year-old Australian hurled a chair onto the court before being slung out of the tournament.

It overshadowed events elsewhere in Rome, which included Jo Konta claiming back-to-back victories over two US Open champions, Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens, to reach the quarter finals.

Kyrgios has his second round prize money of 33,000 Euros docked in addition to the fine after losing the plot against Norway's Casper Ruud when he was given a game penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Playing on a noisy outside court at the Foro Italico, where the crowds can wander in and out, he allowed himself to get riled by spectators and became involved in an exchange with officials after being made to forfeit a game to go 2-1 down in the decider.

Having angrily hurled his racket to the floor he threw the fold-up chair onto the playing surface and then went into an expletive-filled rant, shouting at the chair: 'I am giving 100 per cent to deal with f****** idiots like him, I'm done. I'm f****** done. I'm f****** done with it. I don't give a f***.'

He then put his bag over his shoulder and walked off court of his own accord, but was officially defaulted from the match.

Soon after the clip of his outburst went viral, Kyrgios took to his Twitter account and mocked the celebrations from his opponent after he won by default.

He wrote: 'Hahahaha' and added two crying laughing emojis in response.

He later posted a message on social media later, saying 'emotions got the better of me.'

In addition to financial penalties the ATP have power to suspend him from regular events, not Grand Slams, although his obvious box office power is a disincentive.

He has been suspended before in 2016 for giving less than his best effort, and if it happens against he could miss the Fever Tree Championships at Queen's next month.