For those of us who remember riding the rollercoaster of emotions while watching the brilliant yet horribly flawed career of John McEnroe, it's not hard to see some similarities with Australia's own Nick Kyrgios.

Once dubbed "the Super Brat", McEnroe was able to captivate a crowd with his remarkable shot-making, but the cheers would almost instantly turn to jeers to accompany a vicious display of the American's notorious temper. Sound familiar?

Richard Ings spent many hours officiating McEnroe's matches and many more deciding on sanctions for the seven-time grand slam winner as a leading umpire and then head of officiating for the ATP tour.

He says the level of petulance and misbehaviour displayed by Kyrgios puts even McEnroe to shame.

"He treats them like dirt and that is really unacceptable," Ings said.

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"I never found him (McEnroe) to be threatening. I never found him to be belittling. I just found him to get quite angry from time to time. Nick Kyrgios by comparison really belittles the officials. This is extremely rare in professional tennis, even taking John McEnroe's history into account."

Breaking down the fines: Kyrgios v Khachanov Unsportsmanlike conduct — point penalty ($29,512)

Unsportsmanlike conduct — point penalty ($29,512) Leaving the court ($4,426)

Leaving the court ($4,426) Audible obscenity ($7,378)

Audible obscenity ($7,378) Unsportsmanlike conduct ($7,378)

Unsportsmanlike conduct ($7,378) Unsportsmanlike conduct ($29,512)

Unsportsmanlike conduct ($29,512) Verbal abuse ($29,512)

Verbal abuse ($29,512) Unsportsmanlike conduct ($29,512)

Unsportsmanlike conduct ($29,512) Unsportsmanlike conduct ($29,512) * All figures in AUD

For all of Kyrgios's obvious talent, his achievements pale compared to McEnroe and yet he's racking up sanctions at a rate no player in history can match.

The ATP found him in breach of eight offences for his behaviour during his second-round loss to Russian eighth seed Karen Khachanov at the Cincinnati Masters.

In total Kyrgios was fined $166,000, the biggest financial penalty in the history of men's professional tennis.

He regularly berated and abused chair umpire Fergus Murphy during the match.

At one point, Kyrgios left the court without permission for a bathroom break, only to be captured on television smashing two of his racquets in a corridor under the stands.

At the conclusion of the match he called the umpire a "f***ing tool" before spitting in his direction.

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The outburst prompted the ESPN television commentators to label the display "disgusting".

Ings has called on the sport's governing body to protect the integrity of its officials by coming down hard on Kyrgios.

"The umpire in this match, Fergus Murphy, has decades of experience at this elite level. In fact, when I was executive vice president of the ATP, I initially hired him as a full-time professional umpire," Ings said.

"He's spectacularly capable in the job at hand. He handled that match incredibly well.

"I'm sure that the sport will back him fully and level whatever sanctions are needed against Nick Kyrgios."

Tennis authorities are still investigating Kyrgios's display in Cincinnati amid increasing calls for the 24-year-old to receive an enforced break from the game.

Nick Kyrgios speaks to umpire Fergus Murphy during the Cincinnati Masters. ( ESPN )

Ings is one of those who believe Kyrgios needs to serve a suspension.

"Nick Kyrgios has a terrible track record, particularly in 2019. At the Italian Open in May he walked off the court and literally got defaulted. At Queens club in June just before Wimbledon he was levied a significant fine," Ings said.

"But if the fines are not changing the behaviour then the next thing open to the ATP is a period of suspension.

"A suspension can be levied for many, many months. A player could miss a significant portion of the season for a very, very serious major offence.