Nick Kyrgios has absolutely zero empathy for Jannik Sinner’s revelation that he struggled and had difficulty getting closer to people while there was an ongoing investigation into his doping case.
In March, the 2024 Australian Open champion twice tested positive for anabolic steroid clostebol. However, he quickly located the source of his positive test – proved that he was a victim of contamination – and was allowed to keep playing.
While the ITIA was investigating the case, no one knew that Sinner failed a doping test and that he was possibly facing being suspended from the game. Eventually, the 23-year-old was cleared as it was accepted that his former physio Giacomo Naldi was to blame for what happened and that the Italian tennis star “bore no fault or negligence” for what happened.
During those couple of months, Sinner felt heartbroken and devastated because in his mind, there was no doubt that he was “innocent.”
“It was a tough time. I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. I couldn’t vent or get help. All the people who knew me and watched me play understood that there was something wrong with me. I [had] sleepless nights, because even if you are certain of your innocence, you know that these things are complex. Everyone immediately told the truth and that allowed me to play. But at Wimbledon, I was white. And even afterwards, my feeling with people was fearful. I went into training at the Cincinnati clubhouse and thought, How are they looking at me? What do they really think of me? I realized who my real friends are,” Sinner told Esquire.
After reading about that particular revelation made by the 23-year-old, Kyrgios bluntly reacted by saying: “Yes. You tested for steroids. Very hard to talk to other people who aren’t.”
Yes. You tested for steroids. Very hard to talk to other people who aren’t.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 6, 2024
Kyrgios has been firm in his criticism fo Sinner
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist calling out the current ATP world No. 1 or offering some harsh comments isn’t anything since he has been doing that since Day 1.
Nick Kyrgios© YouTube screenshot
When the ITIA first revealed the news in August, the Australian ripped the handling of the case as “ridiculous” and said that the Italian deserved to be suspended for at least two years. Since then, absolutely nothing has changed in the 29-year-old’s perspective on the case as he remains firm in his belief that Sinner should be handed a suspension.
In late December, the WADA lodged an appeal into the ITIA’s ruling. Because of that, there is still a possibility that the 23-year-old will get a suspension at some point next year.
When the WADA announcement came, Kyrgios laughed and cheekily argued that he was maybe right all along.
Nick Kyrgios reaction© Instagram
But why Kyrgios has been so outspoken about the Sinner case?
By the time the US Open, the seven-time ATP champion had already criticized the Italian’s case numerous time. And then while on air for ESPN, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up highlighted that he had no regrets over his comments because he felt someone needed to say it out loud. Also, he praised Sinner as one of the best in the game – noted that it wasn’t anything personal – but he simply didn’t think that it wasn’t fair to see him avoid a suspension.
“I think I stand by every word. Everything I put on social media I have to stand up for. I’ve seen many of my friends go through doping things and being suspended. We’ve seen players like Halep and everyone and it seems like every time one of these things comes up, there’s always a different process for different players,” Kyrgios said on ESPN during his conversation with Chris Fowler.
“It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. I know how important he is. He’s one of the greatest tennis players we have right now… And how important he’s gonna be for the next 15 years. I’m not denying any of that. Nothing against him personally. If you look at Jenson Brooksby… Players who’ve had their careers taken away for up to a year… And someone like Sinner just kind of doing it his own kind of way. I think he had it on his own terms for most of the time. I don’t think that’s fair and equal for the rest of the tour.”
In case Sinner loses his upcoming case and gets suspended, one thing is for sure – Kyrgios will be very loud about it.
Tennis World USA