Nick Kyrgios took aim at fellow ATP colleague Fernando Verdasco after the Spaniard was suspended for two months from competing.
The Spanish player was banned for two months from competing by the ITIA, after forgetting to renew his Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). Verdasco tested positive for ADHD medication, methylphenidate, during an ATP Challenger event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in February 2022.
With the news about his ban becoming public, multiple fellow colleagues voiced their opinions, and seemingly, Nick Kyrgios wasn't so surprised by the fact that the Spaniard was banned for two months.
However, it seems that the Australian's comment doesn't have to be tied to whether he really expected Verdasco to receive a ban or not but rather their history.
Their conflict began a few years ago, back in 2018 when the Spaniard got into a spat on the court in Miami with Thanasi Kokkinakis, a close friend of Kyrgios.
They engaged in a brief Twitter battle that ended with Verdasco blocking Kyrgios and the Australian mocking the 'bravery' of that act. Back then, the Australian called Verdasco "the saltiest dude."
"I hope TK wins this match, Verdasco is the saltiest dude, must be frustrated at his past success against Aussies."
Now, four years later, after Verdasco was hit by the bad news, Kyrgios used his chance and reignited the feud, as he responded to one of the tweets informing about the Spaniard's ban.
"Can’t say I’m surprised with this one."
Kyrgios is not the only player who has had a go at Verdasco, with Reilly Opelka quite harshly slamming Verdasco and any other player who is 'legally doping' in his own words.
The American is against any ADHD drugs that are used by professional athletes, as he believes they are abused to increase the performance of the players.
Can’t say I’m surprised with this one
Fernando Verdasco has accepted a two-month ban because he forgot to renew a TUE (therapeutic use exemption) for his ADHD medication and tested positive for methylphenidate. His provisional suspension ends January 8, 2023.
