Nick Kyrgios has recently been urged to halt his verbal attacks on Jannik Sinner following the latter’s involvement in a doping controversy. Tennis commentator Mark Petchey emphasized that the sport should let the investigation process unfold with the necessary “due care and attention.”
Sinner, the Italian star currently ranked in the top tier, tested positive for clostebol back in March, but was allowed to continue competing as the results remained under wraps while the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) carried out its investigation. The results were made public in August, revealing that Sinner was not at fault. It was concluded that he had unknowingly absorbed the banned substance through his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a clostebol spray to treat a finger cut and later applied a massage.
As a consequence of the positive test, Sinner was stripped of his ranking points and prize money from the Indian Wells Open. However, he avoided a suspension. The matter, however, is not entirely settled, as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently appealed the ITIA’s decision, calling for a potential ban ranging from one to two years.
Despite the ongoing legal process, Kyrgios has made his dissatisfaction clear, particularly with the fact that Sinner avoided a suspension. The Australian, known for his outspoken views, has taken to social media to express his frustration. Following the news of Iga Swiatek’s one-month suspension for a similar doping violation, Kyrgios tweeted: “OUR SPORT IS COOKED” and criticized the growing trend of players claiming ignorance about banned substances, writing: “The excuse that we can all use is that we didn’t know. Simply didn’t know. Professionals at the highest level of sport can now just say ‘we didn’t know.’”
Petchey, however, believes that Kyrgios needs to step back and allow the legal proceedings to play out. “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. You have to let the process go through due care and attention. This is a massive thing. It is somebody’s career,” Petchey said in a Betway interview.
The conversation then shifted to Kyrgios’ comments about the current generation of tennis players, whom he has criticized for their lack of flair compared to past stars. Specifically, Kyrgios has taken jabs at players like Sinner and Casper Ruud, citing their less exciting personalities on and off the court. Petchey disagreed with this perspective, acknowledging Kyrgios’ impact on the sport, but also defending the current crop of players.
“Nick can do great anywhere, maybe not so much on clay. Nick is one of the best tennis players in the world. The question is whether he can do it week in, week out. And that’s a real skill and it’s a real testament to those players that can do it,” Petchey remarked. “Nick is awesome for the game. When he is involved, the crowds love him, and the younger generations go with him. There is nobody who brings the eyeballs to tennis that Nick does at times. Nick being fit and healthy and putting his style of tennis on the court is great for tennis.”
However, Petchey was quick to defend the personalities of today’s players, citing young stars like Carlos Alcaraz. “I think [Carlos] Alcaraz is arguably one of the greatest tennis players already. Are you going to say that one of the greatest tennis players who lights up a tennis court in a way that very few tennis players have had over the years is suddenly dull?” Petchey argued.
Drawing a comparison to the past, Petchey invoked the “Fire and Ice” era of Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, pointing out that rivalries with contrasting personalities often make tennis more exciting. “It was Mac who brought the passion, Jimmy Connors the bad boy. Borg the ice. You need great rivalries and different personalities. It is Fire and Ice 2.0 for me with Jannik and Carlos.”
Petchey concluded by emphasizing that tennis is in a healthy place, even if it doesn’t have the same level of “trash talk” that marked the 1980s. “We might not have the trash talk of the 80s, but tennis actually is an unbelievably healthy space. You want to see people who are trying to win big competitions, being ultra-professional in doing that. Otherwise, what are we celebrating? People that are mediocre.”
In the end, Petchey’s message is clear: while Kyrgios undoubtedly brings excitement and energy to the sport, the next generation of players, like Sinner and Alcaraz, also deserve respect for their professionalism and dedication. The rivalry between personalities is what keeps tennis vibrant, and the game is in good hands, regardless of the drama on the sidelines.