Nick Kyrgios has once again taken aim at Jannik Sinner and his coaching team, disregarding calls for him to step back from his ongoing criticism of the Italian player. Kyrgios has been vocal in his disapproval of Sinner ever since news broke that the World No. 1 failed two drug tests earlier this year. The substance in question, clostebol, was found in Sinner’s system after a test in March, but the Italian was permitted to continue competing after successfully appealing his provisional suspension.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) later cleared Sinner of any intentional wrongdoing, accepting his explanation that the banned substance entered his body through a treatment from his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Naldi had used a clostebol-containing spray on a cut on his finger before administering a massage. The tennis community was only made aware of the failed drug tests after the ITIA cleared Sinner in August, though the issue remains unresolved. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed the ITIA’s decision, pushing for a suspension of between one and two years.
Despite the ongoing appeals process, Kyrgios has been relentless in his criticism of Sinner, arguing that the Italian should be held accountable and that a ban should have been imposed. In a recent social media post about Sinner, Kyrgios wrote: “Yes. You tested for steroids. Very hard to talk to other people who aren’t.”
Tennis commentator Mark Petchey weighed in on the matter last week, urging Kyrgios to allow the process to unfold. “Yes, Nick Kyrgios needs to give it a rest. Sinner has been found not guilty, right? And we’re about to get the WADA appeal. Let’s just wait for that,” Petchey stated. “You have to let the process go through due care and attention. This is a massive thing. It is somebody’s career.”
However, Kyrgios is not backing down. He has continued his tirade, even criticizing Tennis Australia for awarding Darren Cahill, Sinner’s coach, the 2024 Coaching Excellence award after the Italian’s stellar season, which saw him win both the Australian and US Open titles and finish as World No. 1. “This is a joke right – have some class and integrity people,” Kyrgios wrote on X, expressing his displeasure.
Interestingly, when the news about Sinner’s positive tests first emerged in August, Kyrgios claimed his remarks were not personal. “It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. He’s one of the greatest tennis players we have right now. I’m not denying that. Nothing against him personally,” Kyrgios stated. He went on to explain his frustration with the situation: “I’m definitely not going to be warm and hospitable like I was before. I just want a level playing field for everyone. That’s what this fight is for.”
Kyrgios added that his own experience with consistent drug testing underscores the need for fairness in the sport: “I got tested at my hotels two days ago. We do get tested consistently. This is a sport I’ve played my whole life. If the playing field isn’t the same for everyone, you kind of lose the integrity of the sport a little bit.” Despite the controversy surrounding Sinner’s case, Kyrgios remains steadfast in his belief that fairness and integrity are paramount in tennis.