Nick Kyrgios brutally calls out critic for history with 'performance enhancing drugs'
NewsSaturday, 03 January 2026 at 00:10
Nick Kyrgios is known for making fiery comments, especially toward those who criticize him, but his words about Greg Rusedski were particularly blunt.
Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka have been scolded by some for their Battle of the Sexes match, which the Australian won 6-3, 6-3. He triumphed without too much worry, despite looking unfit and despite Sabalenka having a larger court area to hit into.
Many deemed the spectacle underwhelming and bad for women's tennis. Others felt that Kyrgios has no realistic chance of making a proper return on the ATP Tour if he does not improve his fitness and overall level.
Speculation has persisted about whether Kyrgios will receive a wild card for the 2026 Australian Open main draw. Last January, he was able to use his protected ranking, but that option is unavailable this year.
Former US Open runner-up Greg Rusedski does not think Kyrgios should be awarded a wild card for his home tournament, arguing that he has not reached a high enough level to merit one and his body probably cannot cope with the best-of-five set format.
Kyrgios did get a wild card for the 2026 Brisbane International, which starts in a few days. After arriving in Brisbane, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up was asked about Rusedski's words about him not deserving an Australian Open wild card.
Rather than say Rusedski is entitled to an opinion, a generic response used by many players when asked about someone else's critique of them, Kyrgios immediately went personal by mentioning Rusedski's history of testing positive for the steroid nandrolone.
"I'm pretty sure Greg got done for performance-enhancing drugs once in his career, so I wouldn’t take too much advice from someone like that."
It is crucial to note that Rusedski was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2004 after a tribunal ruled that he had accidentally taken pills with the steroid that ATP trainers provided. Other players were cleared of the same offence during that year.
Kyrgios then took a dig at Rusedski for not being as popular as him, noting that he still generates big crowds while the Briton has not done that since retiring from professional tennis in 2007.
"I didn't even know the comments he made to be honest. I've just been enjoying time back home, enjoying all these amazing events, selling out stadiums around the world. If you let me know when Greg sold out a stadium last time he played, yeah, you let me know."
Nick Kyrgios has been fiercely critical of Jannik Sinner after he tested positive for a banned substance
It has been over a year since tennis fans worldwide were left stunned by the news that Jannik Sinner tested positive for the banned substance clostebol at the 2024 Indian Wells Open. He was initially cleared of wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the case before reaching a case settlement with Sinner, which saw him banned for three months, but he did not miss any Grand Slams or his home event at the 2025 Italian Open.
Kyrgios has repeatedly said he does not believe Sinner took the substance accidentally and argues any player who tests positive should receive a minimum two-year suspension regardless of other factors.
The Australian also called Sinner's case settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency a dark day for tennis, thinking it severely harmed the sport's reputation.
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