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The Incident: Kyrgios posted a cryptic comment, “second serve,” under a photo of him with Kalinskaya from four years ago, which was interpreted by many as a derogatory reference to Kalinskaya, now Sinner’s girlfriend. This comment was made amidst his ongoing feud with Sinner, particularly after Sinner’s doping controversy.
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Public and Media Reaction: The backlash was immediate and intense. Fans, journalists, and commentators on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) expressed outrage, calling the comment misogynistic and demanding consequences for Kyrgios, especially given his role as a commentator for ESPN during the US Open. Critics pointed out this wasn’t the first instance, referencing his past comments about other female players and his history of controversial behavior, including an assault charge against a former girlfriend.
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Kyrgios’s Response: In typical fashion, Kyrgios responded defiantly on social media, questioning why he was being portrayed as the villain in the situation. His response seemed to fuel the fire, with many feeling it underscored a lack of accountability or understanding of the gravity of his words.
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Professional Implications and ESPN: There were calls for ESPN to remove Kyrgios from his commentator position, highlighting the incongruity between his behavior and the values expected from public figures, especially in sports commentary where respect and professionalism are paramount. However, as of the latest updates, no formal action from ESPN has been reported.
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Broader Context: This incident adds to the narrative of Kyrgios’s career, marked by brilliance on the court and controversy off it. His ability to stir debate and provoke reactions, whether through his tennis or his comments, keeps him in the public eye, often for reasons unrelated to his sporting achievements.
Sinner at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2024
WWWWWWWWWL Ranked world no.1, the Italian has achieved a composed 54-5 win-loss record in 2024. Jannik is playing at the U.S. Open where he managed to beat the world no.140 Mackenzie Mcdonald 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2, the world no.49 Alex Michelsen 6-4 6-0 6-2, the world no.87 Christopher O Connell 6-1 6-4 6-2, the world no.14 Tommy Paul 7-6(3) 7-6(5) 6-1, the world no.5 Daniil Medvedev 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 and the world no.25 Jack Draper 7-5 7-6(3) 6-2.
Jannik Sinner will play the world no.12 Taylor Fritz in the final on Sunday at 2:00 pm on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Their current head to head is 1-1.
Sinner has won 5 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinnati.
Jannik won 16 titles in his career: 7 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Sinner is scheduled to compete next in Beijing (China Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 23rd of September.
