Nick Kyrgios impressed by Jannik Sinner's level as he reacts to tennis journalist's "bad taste" take about disclosure of doping tests before US Open
Nick Kyrgios has lauded Jannik Sinner's performances at the ongoing 2024 US Open. The Australian said that as things stand, the Italian looks like the favorite to clinch the men's singles title at the hardcourt Major.
Kyrgios' admission came in response to a journalist's take on Sinner's run at Flushing Meadows amid the Italian's doping controversy.
Sinner's latest win came against World No. 5 and former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals. The World No. 1 needed four sets to get the better of the Russian on Wednesday, September 4, ultimately winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. So far at this year's edition of the hardcourt Major, Sinner has only dropped two sets across five matches played.
However, the remarkable thing about Jannik Sinner's 2024 US Open run to the semis has been his rock-solid performances in the face of widespread scrutiny. News of Sinner twice testing positive in March for the banned substance Clostebol surfaced just ahead of the tournament. Unsurprisingly, the Italian faced fierce criticism, with many claiming that he should have received an extended suspension.
Nick Kyrgios, currently inactive, has been one of Sinner's harshest critics amid his US Open run. The Australian, who is covering the hardcourt Major as an analyst and commentator for ESPN, recently took notice of a post on X (formerly Twitter) shared by prominent tennis journalist, Ben Rothenberg.
Rothenberg commented about the fact that the information related to Sinner's positive tests was made public just days ahead of the commencement of the hardcourt Major. According to the journalist, that particular development has marred the perception of the Italian's Flushing Meadows campaign so far.
"Hard not to think about how much more fun this Jannik Sinner run would have felt if we were still in the dark about his whole anti-doping saga this year. The timing of that, and the way it showed a lack of transparency at the top of tennis for months, just leaves a bad taste," Rothenberg wrote.
Kyrgios, who has often disagreed with Rothenberg's views in the past, agreed with the journalist's take this time around. The 2022 Wimbledon Championships finalist, despite having been a harsh critic of Sinner's doping controversy, lauded the Italian for his performances at the US Open and named him the favorite for the men's singles crown.
"One of your better tweets. Nonetheless not easy to deal with all of this going on and still performing the way he is. Definitely the favourite now," Kyrgios wrote in response to Rothenberg's post.
Kyrgios has conducted several post-match on-court interviews of players so far at the 2024 US Open, but Jannik Sinner hasn't been one of them. At one of the Italian's press conferences, he was asked how he would react if Kyrgios interviewed him after a match.
The World No. 1's answer to the question was widely labeled a mature one.
"I don't want to respond on what Nick Kyrgios said" - Jannik Sinner
At a press conference during his 2024 US Open campaign, Jannik Sinner suggested that even if Nick Kyrgios interviews him after a match, he would steer clear of reacting to the Aussie's criticism. The Italian said he bears no ill will towards Kyrgios and that he would likely have moved on from the harsh critique voiced by the former World No. 11.
"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. 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," Sinner said.
Jannik Sinner is set to face good friend Jack Draper for a place in the final. The Italian and the Brit have faced each other on only one previous occasion on the ATP Tour, with Draper emerging victorious.