The 21-year-old was banned from the ATP tennis tour for eight weeks, reduced to three if he agrees to see a sport psychologist, after his well-publicised meltdown in Shanghai this week.

Kyrgios was the first player to be suspended for bad behaviour since John McEnroe in 1987.

Speaking to SEN, Kennett said he thought Kyrgios had "issues" and needed professional help, an opinion he had formed after Kennett had spoken to people who knew the player this week.

"In one sense, knowing that his health is more important than anything else, I would have hoped that his being eliminated from the competition might have been for a longer period," he said.

Kennett said if Kyrgios was struggling to deal with his problems, he would be better off out of the spotlight.

"I don't mean two years or three years, but he needs to step back, he needs professional help, he needs to admit he needs professional help."

In a Q&A on Twitter, Kyrgios cast doubt on that happening when he responded with "probs not" to a question about whether he would get his ban reduced after meeting with a psychologist.

In other news, the former Victorian premier and Hawthorn chairman said he was surprised the Hawks had traded away club stalwarts Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis, who will move to West Coast and Melbourne respectively.

He was disappointed initially to hear the pair would leave the club, but after giving the matter more thought, he understood the decision was for the greater good.

"The Hawthorn Football Club is much bigger than a president, a coach or a player," he said.

"I just hope these two men are able to end their careers on a high."