"Some players are angry": Nick Kyrgios warns Jannik Sinner he won’t be "silent" about his doping saga after Italian claims he "forgets" things quickly

Nick Kyrgios recently responded to Jannik Sinner following the Italian's refusal to address critics regarding his doping saga. Kyrgios has said that he will not remain silent and that there are players who are angry with the way the authorities have handled the situation.

Kyrgios has been very vocal about his opinions since Sinner tested positive for Clostebol. Sinner's ranking points were stripped, and his prize money was forfeited (Indian Wells) based on the decision of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), but Kyrgios deemed this decision unfair and called for a two-year ban on Sinner.

Ahead of his third-round match at the US Open 2024 against Australia's Christopher O'Connell, Sinner was asked by reporters how he would react if interviewed by Kyrgios. In response, the 22-year-old stated that he would not want to comment on whatever the Australian had said but acknowledged that the interview would be different from usual.

"I don’t know,I don’t want to respond on what he said. Everyone is free to say everything. It’s ok. If that is the case, let’s see. It’s gonna be different for sure,” Sinner said.

"I don’t know what to say. Maybe I say something now and then the reaction will be something else. I’m always quite relaxed. I’m someone who forgets things quite fast. Everyone is free to say everything. It is what it is," he added.

On Thursday, Kyrgios commented on a video of the interview posted on Instagram by Eurosport. He stated that he simply used his platform to advocate for fairness and equality and mentioned that there were a few players who were angry about the situation and should not be expected to remain silent.

“As athletes we use our platforms to make sure things are fair and even. That's all I did. Some players are angry. We know Sinner is amazing, great tennis player and one of the main faces of the sport. But if you expect us to be silent...... we won't,” Nick Kyrgios said.

Nick Kyrgios's comment on Jannik Sinner's press conference video (Source: Instagram @eurosport)

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Nick Kyrgios - “It’s nothing against Jannik Sinner personally”

2022 Miami Open - Day 9 (Image via Getty)

Nick Kyrgios was recently on commentary duty for ESPN, and while discussing his criticism of Jannik Sinner, he stated that his comments were not personal. He emphasized that he stands by everything he has posted or said and is against having different processes for different players, referencing Simona Halep, who was also banned two years ago.

“I think I stand by every word. Everything I put on social media I have to stand up for. I’ve seen many of my friends go through doping things and being suspended," he said.

"We’ve seen players like Halep and everyone and it seems like every time one of these things comes up, there’s always a different process for different players. It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. I know how important he is. He’s one of the greatest tennis players we have right now.. and how important he’s gonna be for the next 15 years. I’m not denying any of that,” the 29-year-old said.

At the 2024 US Open, Sinner is aiming for his sixth title of the season. He defeated Mackenzie McDonald and Alex Michelsen to set up a third-round clash with Christopher O'Connell. So far this year, he has won the Australian Open, Rotterdam Open, Miami Open, Halle Open, and Cincinnati Open.