Argentine tennis professional Nicolas Kicker has once again found himself at the centre of controversy after a sudden and dramatic withdrawal during his quarter-final match in Brazil. The 33-year-old quit whilst facing match point at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Florianopolis, reigniting discussion about his previous six-year ban for match-fixing.
A Sudden Exit on the Court
Kicker was competing against Gustavo Heide when the incident unfolded. After losing the first set 6-2, Kicker was trailing 5-1 in the second set. The pivotal moment came during his service game at deuce. When Heide gained a match point at advantage, Kicker opted not to play the point. Instead, he abruptly walked to the net to shake hands with both his opponent and the chair umpire, effectively retiring from the contest.
This is not the first time Kicker's on-court conduct has been scrutinised. In 2018, he was handed a significant suspension from the sport for his involvement in corrupt activities.
A Stained Career and a Six-Year Ban
Nicolas Kicker holds the unwanted record of being the highest-ranked tennis player ever convicted of match-fixing. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) issued a six-year ban after he was found to have rigged two matches at Challenger Tour level back in 2015.
Of the six-year suspension, three years were suspended, conditional on him committing no further breaches of the rules. His ban was later reduced by four months after he cooperated with the ITIA's anti-corruption educational programme. As part of this, Kicker participated in creating an instructional video where he detailed his involvement and warned other players of the severe consequences.
In the footage, he reflected on the costly mistake that derailed a promising career. "At the time, I was 70 in the world, playing Davis Cup, winning, making the third round in Australia, I beat very, very good players, and I had my whole career ahead," Kicker stated. "That year, I was going to end among the top 50 in the world... I made a mistake in 2015 that produced a suspension, and I ruined my career, all because of one match, and you pay for it dearly."
The Descent into Corruption
Kicker's path to corruption began when he was in a financially precarious position, relying on his parents to fund his career. He was initially contacted via Facebook by an individual offering a monthly allowance and the use of a car in his hometown of Buenos Aires.
This benefactor later revealed themselves to be part of a betting syndicate that demanded he intentionally lose a match. Kicker has repeatedly described the experience of deliberately losing as "horrible" and acknowledges that his reputation on the professional circuit remains permanently "stained".
Once ranked as high as world number 78, Kicker's career never recovered from the scandal. He is now ranked outside the world's top 250, and his recent withdrawal in Brazil ensures his name will continue to be associated with the dark side of the sport.
