Nick Kyrgios says he won’t be silenced about Jannik Sinner ahead of tennis return
Nick Kyrgios has lit the fuse for an explosive return to tennis, taking aim at Jannik Sinner and declaring he will “not shut up” about the world No.1 dodging a ban after twice testing positive to a banned substance.
Nick Kyrgios has stoked the flames of his fiery feud with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner accusing the reigning Australian Open champion of being “disrespectful” to the sport in an explosive pre-tournament interview at the Brisbane International.
In his first official pre-tournament media appearance since returning to tennis from a career-threatening wrist injury, Kyrgios promised he was “not going to shut up about” Sinner escaping major sanction from anti-doping authorities despite twice testing positive for the banned substance clostebol.
In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” after failing two separate drug tests taken in March.
Sinner successfully argued his positive test results, taken eight days apart, were a result of “inadvertent” contamination via contact with his physiotherapist who had been using an over-the-counter substance containing clostebol to heal a cut on his finger.
His only penalty was the loss of 400 ranking points and prizemoney from his semi-final run at Indian Wells.
In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the ITIA’s decision, arguing for a two-year ban, with the Court of Arbitration (CAS) due to rule on it next year.
Now as the Italian prepares to launch his Australian Open title defence in Melbourne later this month, Kyrgios has again lit the fuse claiming the Sinner case was “handled horrifically”.
“When people are saying that I’m disrespectful to the sport, I think someone like that … is the disrespectful one in my opinion,” Kyrgios said.
“I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug.”
Kyrgios’ fellow Australian Max Purcell was this week slapped with a provisional ban after self-reporting that he was unknowingly administered an IV drip above the 100ml legal limit while at a hospital in Bali.
Purcell will miss next month’s Australian Open as a result of the ban.
In November it was revealed women’s world No. 2 Iga Swiatek had quietly served a one-month ban in September after testing positive to the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition sample taken in August.
“There’s not fair treatment for every single player,” Kyrgios said.
“We’ve seen that with Max Purcell. The reason that’s different is because he went to the authorities first, he admitted he had done something that was on the prohibited (method) list.
“That’s how it should be, rather than all this sweeping under the rug, not knowing, question marks.
“OK, he (Sinner) is No. 1 in the world, he is an amazing tennis player — I never said he’s not. I just think the treatment has to be fair for everyone. I just think it’s been handled horrifically in our sport.
“Two world No. 1s (Sinner and Swiatek) both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look.
“I know people don’t like when I just speak out about things, be honest about things. For a kid that grew up playing tennis I enjoyed the competition, I enjoyed playing. I can get emotional, I can throw a racquet, but that’s nothing compared to (them).”
Kyrgios’ comments come as he prepares to return to professional tennis for the first time in almost two years.
He drew big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Brisbane International, which begins on Sunday.
Kyrgios will also partner 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the doubles in Brisbane.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said of the Djokovic partnership.
“Kid from Canberra gets to play with the greatest of all time in his hometown in front of the fans is pretty special.
“It’s something that I’m able to tell people when it’s all said and done, that I played doubles with him.”
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