Nick Kyrgios has sparked controversy once again, this time targeting World No. 1 Jannik Sinner over the Italian’s cleared doping case. Sinner, who tested positive earlier this year for the banned substance Clostebol, was exonerated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which determined he bore “no fault or negligence” as the substance was transferred via a massage cream used by his former physiotherapist. Despite the ruling, Kyrgios has continued to voice his disapproval.
The Australian took to social media, calling the situation “ridiculous” and claiming, “You get tested twice with a banned substance… you should be gone for two years.” He later escalated his comments in an interview, stating his eagerness to face Sinner at the Australian Open, vowing to “get every person in the crowd to get on him” and promising an “absolute riot” during the match.
Kyrgios’ remarks have drawn criticism from across the tennis community, with former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli joining the chorus of disapproval. Speaking on RMC Sports, Bartoli described Kyrgios as someone who “lives and breathes nothing but provocative statements” and pointed to his history of inappropriate behavior, including past inflammatory comments directed at Stan Wawrinka during a match.
“At some point, you just get fed up,” Bartoli said. “Sinner isn’t going to respond, and honestly, he doesn’t need to. On one side, you have the World No. 1 who has just won two Grand Slams and is virtually unbeatable, and on the other, you have Nick Kyrgios, who hasn’t played an official match since June 2023.”
The controversy has once again raised questions about Kyrgios’ place in the sport, as his antics often overshadow his on-court performances. Sinner, meanwhile, has opted not to engage publicly, focusing instead on his preparation for the upcoming season.
Nick Kyrgios in 2024
Now ranked no.470, Kyrgios played his last match on the 13th of June 2023 when he lost to world no.407 Yibing Wu 7-5 6-3 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
This season Nick has a composed 0-1 record.
He is also scheduled to play in Brisbane (Brisbane International) on the 1st of January and () on the 13th of January.