Nick Kyrgios has been merciless in his criticism of Jannik Sinner over the world number one’s doping violation, but a tennis expert has suggested his animosity stems from the fact that the Italian has been dating his ex-girlfriend.
Kyrgios has been among the harshest critics of Sinner and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek after they failed drug tests last year.
Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March, but avoided a suspension because the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined he was not to blame.
Kyrgios publicly called for Sinner to be banned, attacking him on social media and describing the doping drama as “disgusting for our sport.”
However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Sinner has been dating Kyrgios’ ex, Anna Kalinskaya.
American sports journalist Jon Wertheim stated that the Australian’s obsession with Sinner is rooted in personal animosity rather than concerns about the integrity of tennis.
Sports journalist Jon Wertheim has claimed that Nick Kyrgios’ attacks on Jannik Sinner are due to the fact that the Italian has been dating the Australian’s ex-girlfriend.
Sinner has been in a relationship with tennis star Anna Kalinskaya since early last year.
Kalinskaya (pictured)
“There’s a woman involved here, who’s also a player,” Wertheim said Monday on Andy Roddick’s Served podcast.
“You have to keep in mind that Jannik Sinner, who he has been relentlessly harassing for months and months and has not responded, is also trained by an ESPN colleague.
“There’s a lot going on here, but it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with genuine concerns about doping.
“To begin with, he (Kyrgios) didn’t even seem to understand the doping protocols and the context, which leads me to conclude that this is all simply…against a player who is now dating an ex-girlfriend, and nothing more.” .
Roddick also used that episode of the podcast to launch a shocking attack on the Australian, mentioning the fact that he pleaded guilty to assaulting an ex-girlfriend and calling Kyrgios a hypocrite and a bully.
Late last year it was rumored that Sinner and Kalinskaya had broken up, but there has been no official confirmation of this from either player.
Kyrgios, who is now dating Costeen Hatzi, responded by saying he has no problem with Sinner personally, writing on system.’
In September 2023, there were calls for Kyrgios to be fired from his commentary job at ESPN after he commented on the “second serve” on a photo showing him and Kalinskaya together.
It’s unclear what the 29-year-old was trying to communicate with the comment, but many thought it was a misogynistic dig at Sinner.
Kyrgios responded to the claims by stating that he has no personal problem with the Italian and does not care who he is in a relationship with (pictured).
Sinner had a triumphant year on court in 2024 (pictured kissing Kalinskaya after winning the US Open last September)
Kyrgios was convicted for making this comment on a photo of him and Kalinskaya
Last month, Kyrgios called the doping scandals “horrible” for tennis.
“Two world number ones convicted of doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look,” Kyrgios said at his press conference at the Brisbane International.
“The integrity of tennis right now and everyone knows it, but no one wants to talk about it, it’s horrible.”
Kyrgios has struggled since June 2023 with wrist and knee injuries. He was asked about his motivations for speaking out about the Sinner and Swiatek situations.
“Someone like me… would never even try to dope me in this sport in my entire life,” he said.
“Especially going through an injury like I did, obviously there are things that could speed up the healing, help me get back to the main level, help my recovery.
“There are so many things that are prohibited in our sport that I could have done to recover faster… (but) that’s not who I am. I’m always against that.
“So when people say I’m disrespectful to the sport, I think someone like that who has tried to game the process, and hasn’t really done it completely on their own merits, is the disrespectful one in my opinion.
‘I have to be frank about it because I don’t think there are enough people talking about it. “I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug.”