Nick Kyrgios, never one to shy away from controversy, has once again taken a swipe at World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, this time on social media. The Australian star, known for his outspoken views, was responding to an Instagram user who asked if he’d consider playing doubles with Sinner. Kyrgios’s blunt reply: “I only play with clean players.”
This latest barb comes amidst the ongoing doping saga surrounding Sinner. While an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) cleared him of any fault or negligence following two positive tests for clostebol, a banned substance, in March 2024, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) isn’t letting the matter rest. WADA lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on September 26, seeking a two-year ban for Sinner. This, despite Sinner’s impressive achievements, including winning both the Australian Open and US Open titles in the months following the positive tests.
Kyrgios, a vocal critic of Sinner since the initial positive tests, has consistently called for a harsher penalty. Back in March, when the news first broke, Kyrgios took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned substance (steroid)…you should be gone for two years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…yeah nice.”
It remains to be seen how the Court of Arbitration for Sport will rule on WADA’s appeal. But one thing is certain: Nick Kyrgios, with his characteristic bluntness, is unlikely to hold back his opinions on the matter.
