Nick Kyrgios has been extremely vocal when speaking about Jannik Sinner over the last year or so.
After all, the Australian has seen some of his closest friends on tour suffer because of the sport’s doping policies, which seemingly left him bitter when the 22-year-old was charged.
Having tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March 2024, the Italian reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency to serve a three-month ban, which he served earlier this year.
However, for Nick Kyrgios, this was not enough.
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He felt that the then-world number one had been granted an easier sentence because of his stature within the game, with Kyrgios arguing that Sinner should have been banned for two years.
This frustration is made all the more interesting given what happened the only time these two ever met in an ATP event.
How Jannik Sinner reacted to beating Nick Kyrgios in 2022
Their sole match thus far came in Miami, all the way back in 2022.
Back then, Jannik Sinner was but a promising youngster, still just two years away from his maiden Grand Slam title.
However, the promise he showed was evident.
That was perfectly exhibited in his win over Kyrgios, masterfully navigating past a tricky opponent who was stirring up a storm as he argued with the umpire throughout.
Speaking after his straight-sets win though, Sinner admitted: “I just tried to stay in the present moment to be honest because I know he can raise his level immediately, especially when he breaks.
“I tried to somehow stay calm, and I think I did a great job today.
“Today I raised my level a little bit and tried to stay more aggressive. I also served well, especially during the important moments. I think this can give me a lot of confidence for the next round.
Why Nick Kyrgios was so angry during his match vs Jannik Sinner
Kyrgios may have come across as angry at Sinner over the last year, given how he reacted to the doping scandal, but during the match in question, his frustration was not aimed at the 23-year-old.
Instead, the Australian seemed furious with pretty much everything else.
During the first set, he was heard shouting: “The court’s the worst, the crowd the worst, everyone is the worst.”
This came after umpire Carlos Bernardes’ walkie-talkie went off mid-point, leading Kyrgios to add: “Unbelievable! Miami – one of the biggest tournaments – and you guys can’t do your jobs. It’s embarrassing!”
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After the defeat, he refused to shake the umpire’s hand and received a hefty fine for his numerous outbursts.
It would be interesting to see how he would act were he to play Sinner now after all he has said about his doping controversy.
