Jannik Sinner unmoved by criticism of one-month doping ban from Nick Kyrgios

Australian Open champ Jannik Sinner delivered a sharp response to questions about the criticism from Nick Kyrgios over his short doping ban.

Reigning Australian Open champ and world No.1 Jannik Sinner says he’ll continue to “block” external criticism of his lenient doping ban as ardent critic Nick Kyrgios dropped another subtle sledge towards the Italian.

But Sinner, who was given just a one-month ban for twice testing positive to an anabolic steroid last March, after an investigation found it was unintentional, said he didn’t feel the need to respond “to what Nick says”.

Sinner claimed a banned substance was inadvertently administered by a support staff member via a massage.

The World Anti Doping Agency has appealed the decision to dole out the lenient penalty amid claims the Italian was given preferential treatment given he didn’t even serve a provisional ban after his positive test.

Jannik Sinner is ignoring criticism of his doping ban. Picture: William West / AFP

But ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, who governs the men’s game, has denied those claims.

While he begins his title defence under a cloud, Sinner said he was unmoved by the furore following him.

“We are at the stage where we don’t know many things. Sinner said.

“It is what it is. I am here trying to prepare for a grand slam.

“In my mind I know exactly what happened and that’s how I block it. I haven’t done anything wrong – that’s why I’m still here.”

Defending Australian Open champs Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Sinner was asked specifically about the commentary around his ban, and criticism from the likes of Kyrgios, and had a firm response.

“I don’t think I have to answer this, to be honest … I don’t want to respond to what Nick says or what any other player says,” Sinner said.

Kyrgios, who said tennis was “cooked” when news of Sinner’s limited ban first emerged, was loathe to voice his concern again on Friday at his press conference before making his grand slam return at Melbourne Park.

But he was quick to point out he didn’t think he’d be having a similar fight on his hands.

“Look, I don’t want to speak too much about it. I think we’ve all been speaking about it … I think tennis has been speaking about it for the last six months,” he said.

“I’ve been tested four times in the last couple months. I got tested in my home, three days ago.

OUR SPORT IS COOKED 😴😭 https://t.co/bHa9cLjxAM

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) November 28, 2024

“For me, it hasn’t been a problem in my career. I’ve been on the tour now for 10-plus years … I’m not worried at all.

“I’m very confident in myself that I’m not going to have something ‘accidentally’ (in my system).”

Before the tournament began, Kyrgios said he would “love to play Sinner” at Melbourne Park.

“If I played him in the Australian Open, I would just get every single person in the crowd to get on him. I would just turn it into an absolute riot,” he said.

But the Australian first needs to overcome his British first-round opponent Jacob Fearnley on Monday.

Originally published as Jannik Sinner unmoved by criticism of one-month doping ban from Nick Kyrgios