Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic snubbed for top Australian tennis award

World No. 13 Kyrgios missed the end of the season after being suspended for three weeks for a disciplinary incident at the Shanghai Open.

And the young Aussie, who has never been far from controversy in his career to-date, is likely to have missed out on nomination for the award due to his behaviour.

Tennis Australia define the Newcombe Medal as being for the country’s “most outstanding elite tennis player and ambassador for the sport”, which perhaps also explains the absence of Tomic from the shortlist.

Tomic opted out of representing Australia at the Rio Olympics – a decision that reportedly riled the Tennis Australia chiefs – while his behaviour at the Madrid Open, which saw him finish the match holding his racquet upside down, also riled the authorities.

Dylan Alcott, John Millman and John Peers are the three male players nominated for the award, although none of three have enjoyed as successful years on the circuit as either Tomic or Kyrgios.

Tomic and Kyrgios, along with Sam Stosur, are clearly the most talented and successful Australian tennis players on the circuit.

But awards aren't just about that.

As Tennis Australia clearly state, this is not just a recognition of achievement, but also of ambassadorial qualities. And in truth it would send out a worse message if Kyrgios or (to a lesser extent) Tomic were to be recognised by the governing body in a positive light after a year in which they have both brought the sport into disrepute.

Whether either player will care, or whether awards such as this matter to anybody other than their creators are debates for another day.