Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios was considered one of the most vocal critics of Jannik Sinner when information broke of the World No. 1 failing two assessments for a banned substance earlier this yr. Even because the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) claimed Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” for failing the assessments, Kyrgios refused to simply accept that Sinner was harmless, constantly taking shots on the Italian for dishonest the game.
Along with his house main — the 2025 Australian Open — quick approaching, Kyrgios has continued to name out Sinner at each given alternative. Throughout his latest look on the “Nothing Major” podcast, Kyrgios mentioned he plans to show the Melbourne crowd in opposition to Sinner and hoped they’d sq. off within the singles draw.
“I actually wish to go on the market and I actually wish to play Sinner,” Kyrgios mentioned. “If I performed him within the Australian Open, I might get each individual within the crowd to get on him. I’d flip into an absolute riot. All respect would exit the window and I’d simply do something to win.”
Kyrgios mentioned he is received “nothing private” in opposition to Sinner or Iga Swiatek — who also failed a drug test in 2024 — and was extra involved in regards to the integrity of the game. The Aussie additionally refused to purchase the notion that Sinner was unaware that his physio, whom he later fired, inadvertently contaminated him with the steroid throughout therapy.
“When you get caught you may’t act just like the sufferer,” Kyrgios mentioned of Sinner. “That is what p—-s me off much more about it. I am like ‘maintain on a second, you use your crew, do not you?'”
In some methods, Kyrgios was validated for his earlier criticisms of Sinner when the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) in September appealed ITIA’s verdict to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), calling for Sinner to be banned “between one and two years.” Sinner is at present awaiting the outcomes of the CAS investigation, with arbitration proceedings reportedly underway. The CAS’ choice might be thought of closing and binding however Sinner and WADA will every have the proper to enchantment to the Swiss Federal Tribunal inside 30 days.
Sinner might be defending his Australian Open crown after profitable final yr’s occasion, his first profession main. One wonders if Kyrgios will achieve making a hostile surroundings for the World No. 1.
