Jannik Sinner Refuses To Respond To Nick Kyrgios' Explosive Criticism
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Nick Kyrgios has been more critical of Jannik Sinner than anyone since the Italian's doping case became public. However, the ATP world No. 1 refused to start a war of words with him.
Over four months have passed since Sinner's doping case was made public a few days before the US Open. The investigation into his positive tests for the banned substance clostebol at the Indian Wells Open by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) was kept private.
Sinner hoped to move on from the saga when the ITIA cleared him of wrongdoing. Unfortunately for him, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
WADA accepts Sinner's explanation that contamination happened accidentally from his physiotherapist but feels he bears some fault for a team member using a product containing a banned substance.
CAS announced the date of Sinner's appeal hearing: April 16th and 17th. The world No. 1 admits it is impossible to forget his doping case while preparing for the Australian Open, making it harder for him than for other players.
Kyrgios has not shown Sinner any sympathy. The Australian thinks the 23-year-old might have taken the clostebol deliberately, despite the ITIA and WADA accepting it was accidental. He promised to give him no respect if they played each other.
Iga Swiatek also tested positive for a banned substance in 2024. She accepted a one-month ban after proving that the melatonin tablets she bought were contaminated. Kyrgios has taken aim at Sinner and Swiatek collectively, calling their cases disgusting for tennis.
In a press conference before the Australian Open, Sinner was asked how he blocks out the attention on his case, including from Kyrgios. The US Open winner answered that he did nothing wrong and would not respond to Kyrgios' criticisms.
"I don't think I have to answer this, to be honest. How do I block it? It's not that just put in a part and you just say that I don't think any more about this. In my mind I know exactly what happened, and that's how I block it, no?"
"I haven't done anything wrong. That's why I'm still here. That's why I'm still playing. I don't want to respond on what Nick said or what other players say. I think the most important part is to have my people around me who I can trust, people they exactly know what happened. That's it."
Sinner was asked a follow-up question about whether the case had put any doubts into his head when he eats or takes medicine. The No. 1 seed at the Australian Open said it did not have because he has always been careful and will continue to be.
"No, because I've done the same thing before. As I approach these things, they haven't changed. Because I was very, very careful on every single medicine I take, even what I eat. When the bottle is open, I throw it away. I take a new one. I was always very careful about this stuff. No, haven't changed."
