Nick Kyrgios storm erupts over two-word insinuation

Nick Kyrgios is at the centre of angry fan backlash after the Australian took things too far following a deleted comment.

Nick Kyrgios has made some people angry. Instagram @costeenhatzi.

Angry fans have hit out at Nick Kyrgios over a two-word insinuation on social media that some believe went too far.

The Australian has been one of the loudest voices in the ongoing squabble surrounding controversial doping bans handed to men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and WTA Tour No. 2 Iga Swiatek.

The 29-year-old has exchanged prickly words with American tennis great Andy Roddick over the subject recently - and the latest instalment has seen the Canberran come in for more criticism than usual.

With Kyrgios returning for a shot at the Australian Open this summer, doping is set to be one of the big talking points heading into the Melbourne Park event, which begins January 12.

Swiatek, who has five grand slam titles to her name, was revealed to have been handed a one-month suspension after failing a doping test during an out-of-competition sample in August 2024.

The Polish star’s soft suspension is expected to be challenged by WADA (World Anti-Doping Authority).

Sinner’s case will also be heard before the Court of Arbitration for Sport following the Aussie Open because WADA has appealed the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) verdict that the Italian showed “no fault or negligence”.

He twice tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024.

Nick Kyrgios has made some people angry. Instagram @costeenhatzi.

Swiatek, meanwhile, accepted the suspension handed down. She missed three tournaments.

Kyrgios wasn’t happy with the ruling and let his followers know on Twitter.

Kyrgios kicked off by quote tweeting Zimbabwean tennis player and world No. 337 Benjamin Lock, who wrote: “1 month ban. It’s not even April fools day. Don’t play with us like that. Two number 1s in the world failing drug tests in the same year is wild.”

Kyrgios added: “Our sport is cooked.”

The swirling drama is the back drop to the latest beef between Roddick and the former Wimbledon finalist.

Roddick backed up previous comments on Twitter when he showed sympathy for Swiatek and Sinner when discussing the subject on his podcast ‘Served with Andy Roddick’.

“So let’s talk about the doping,” he said.

“Actually it’s not even doping, just contaminated substances and testing for a billionths of grams and some of the players chirping about these champions that will be hall of famers, when they’ve never put in two good days of work together simultaneously in their lives”.

The comment clearly irked Kyrgios.

“It’s just sad at this point,” he wrote on Twitter.

“The guy is like a messenger to try and sweep everything under the rug. Haha, he definitely took the side of corruption, but I mean I’ve had a couple good days in a row.”

One fan agreed with Kyrgios.

Nick Kyrgios returns to the Brisbane International. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Andy Roddick, US Open champion in 2002.

“Why is Roddick so much pro doping in tennis!? What the hell. With all the doping defending, one would’ve to think that Roddick must had a magical cream of his own during his playing career,” the Twitter user posted.

“There isn’t any other logical explanation for such excessive doper a** kissing really.”

Kyrgios responded: “Hahaha most likely.”

The fan’s original comment has been deleted from Twitter.

Fans on social media have been left angry about Kyrgios’ two-word insinuation about the former US Open champ, who retired in 2012.

One fan responded to Kyrgios by writing: “Andy Roddick, sue his ass”.

Another posted: “Andy, what do you think about taking legal action”.

Other fans described Kyrgios as a meme.

“This is what you have reduced yourself to,” one Twitter user wrote.

“Quoting posts of random X accounts. You know what’s the difference between you and the current pros? They are not stuck on this platform like an obsessed person”.

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios with his partner Costeen Hatzi. Source - https://www.instagram.com/p/C9ZtGNVtiFV/

Leading tennis commentator Mark Petchey last week also told Kyrgios to put a sock in it.

The Tennis Channel analyst said Kyrgios should let the scandal reach a conclusion before attacking Sinner.

“Nick Kyrgios needs to give it a rest on attacking Jannik Sinner over doping saga,” Petchey told Betway.

“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.”

The most eyebrow-raising aspect of Kyrgios’ comments about Sinner is that the tennis hothead previously dated the two-time grand slam champ’s current girlfriend, Anna Kalinskaya.

That situation exploded at the US Open when Kyrgios appeared to make a “misogynistic” comment.

The Russian and Kyrgios dated before the pair ended their relationship in 2020.

Kalinskaya, the world No. 14 player on the WTA rankings, started dating Sinner earlier this year.

During a series of tweet exchanges with Sinner fans, one Twitter user tagged Kyrgios in a photo that showed the 29-year-old with Kalinskaya at an NBA game four years ago.

“Second serve,” Kyrgios replied.

Meanwhile, the Brisbane International on Wednesday confirmed Novak Djokovic will play alongside Kyrgios at the tournament, which begins December 29.

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios storm erupts over two-word insinuation