By Richard Pagliaro Monday, October 13, 2025
Photo credit: Glynn Kirk/AFP/Getty
Nick Kyrgios Claims ATP is ‘protecting’ Wimbledon champions Jannik Sinner Consequences of Doping Violations in 2024.
While Kyrgios said his relationship with the world No. 2 was “grim,” he also considered Sinner one of the best pure hitters in tennis history and a top candidate to finish his career.
In a wide-ranging and entertaining podcast interview with the host Josh Mansour “Improv”Kyrgios details the roots of his troubled relationship with Sinner and predicts his future Carlos Alcaraz and sinner, revealing why he and. Rafael Nadal Never Got Along, cites his least favorite umpire, explains why he signed on to PTPA lawsuit against ATP, lists the “scariest” celebrities he’s interviewed and shares why he has a friendship with him Andy Murray When his relationship soured with Novak Djokovic has developed into a full-fledged friendship.
Kyrgios kept taking shots at Sinner, who twice tested positive for “low levels” of the banned steroid clotidol in March 2024. The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced that Sinner failed two doping tests in August ahead of the 2024 U.S. Open.
Sinner was not suspended and was allowed to compete because an independent tribunal ruled he was “not at fault” for steroid contamination in his system. Sinner successfully appealed two provisional suspensions, claiming inadvertent contamination, and was allowed to compete while the case was investigated.
The decision prompted WADA to appeal the case and seek a ban of one to two years. Earlier this year, Sinner accepted a three-month ban to resolve an appeal by WADA.
“This case has been bothering me for almost a year and the process will take a long time, possibly until the end of the year, before a decision is made,” Sinner said in a statement about accepting the suspension in February. “I have always believed that I have a responsibility to my team and recognize that WADA’s strict rules are important protections for the sport I love.
“On this basis, I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of three-month sanctions.”
Kyrgios told Josh Mansour He dismissed Sinner’s story as “nonsense” and claimed the ATP was “protecting” the four-time Grand Slam champion because he and Carlos Alcaraz are key players on the tour now and in the future. The new duo has won eight consecutive Grand Slam titles.
“A lot of people in the dressing room love me, but there are some people I can’t stand. Obviously like myself and Yannick Sinner right now, it’s a very serious situation,” Kyrgios said. “Obviously, after his positive doping test and whatnot, yeah, there were some people I didn’t get along with at all…
“He is the best player in the world [when he tested positive] There is no doubt that he is an incredible player who will lead the sport with Alcaraz for the next 10 to 15 years.
“So I mean, obviously they protected him in a way. I mean the CEO and all the important people in the ATP are Italian. The whole story to me is bullshit.”
Although Kyrgios is skeptical of Sinner’s story, he said both Alcaraz and Sinner have the potential to break Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles and praised the Italian as the best pure ball forward in tennis history.
“For me, it’s painful because I’m like a guy who tests positive and then gets out of it so easily, I’m like fuck, maybe I should do this. Like what if I’m going to do this?” Kyrgios said. “I just hope he learns from it. At the end of the day, he’s going to be one of the best players ever.
“I would also tell him to his face: I think he’s good enough to do this without any worries.” [possible doping]. Like if it was an accident, okay, but if it wasn’t, I’d be like ‘Bro, I don’t think you need that. ‘
“I played him and it was a really close game and I was like ‘This kid is going to be unbelievable.’ “So I feel like you’re good enough to do that in your own right. “
Kyrgios said Sinner’s hitting skills are extraordinary and he believes world No. 1 Alcaraz can eventually surpass Djokovic’s Grand Slam record.
“Incredible hitter, like Sinner is hitting the ball on another planet,” Kyrgios said. “It’s like he’s probably one of the best strikers of all time. It’s like he was before. He doesn’t have a weakness anymore.
“Like Sinner and Alcaraz there are no weaknesses. You just level up to ridiculous levels [to beat Alcaraz or Sinner]. I think the rate Alcaraz is developing, he can [surpass Djokovic and Nadal]. He already has six. So at this rate, he’s winning twice a year. So he can do it.
“Look at Alcaraz and Sinner, the way they handle external things is otherworldly. That’s what they don’t get enough recognition for: filming, media, all the business stuff, and yet they’re juggling tennis and acting at 21, 22 years old and barely losing. It’s ridiculous.”
Kyrgios shares his insights on other players and controversial tennis topics Josh Mansour In the 71-minute interview above. Below is a review of some interview highlights.
Why Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal dislike each other but respect each other:
“Like Rafa, he’s known for stalling for time. Like brother, he spent a minute and a half between points and no one said a word. But once you get like 26 seconds, they lose the serve like it’s a code violation. I was like brother, is there any discretion here? Or can Rafa do whatever he wants? But look, I get it. He’s one of the greatest players of all time, Nadal, but at the same time it’s like you can’t take that long.
“I don’t care what Rafa does. I mean he’s the greatest of all time. We don’t like each other, but I respect Rafa. We don’t like each other. We’re very different. It’s like your opponent, you respect their ability, but you don’t have a beer with them. … I played him nine times and every time I played him, I was like everybody in Tennis Australia was using this guy, like they were putting him on a throne. So I just wanted to beat him so badly. He was my motivation for a long time.”
Why Carlos Bernardes is Kyrgios’ least favorite referee:
“Look him up… He’s an absolute idiot. And mid-sentence, your walkie-talkie goes off, like learning how to do your damn job. Like you’re an idiot.”
Why Mike Tyson is the scariest person Kyrgios has ever interviewed on his Good Trouble podcast:
“Man, he’s Mike Tyson. Like, he’s a killer, so yeah, it’s pretty scary.”
Kyrgios talks about his ongoing love for alcohol:
“I drink a lot. I probably still drink six days a week. Like I love drinking. I’m always in good shape to drink. Like I love drinking. I train like a dog, but at the same time I love drinking.”
Kyrgios talks about why his once-deep friendship with Andy Murray has faded:
“I don’t even know if he’s not friends anymore. I guess he’s like, he’s like a colleague. I mean we were close, but then I don’t know. He’s one of the people who’s been very supportive of me. [through my darkest times]. But now we don’t talk much. But I wanted him on my podcast, and he was so important. So this is your truth. Like bro, find some time, bro. “
Kyrgios on his ‘Hot List’ tattoo and how he became good friends with former nemesis Novak Djokovic:
“Sixteen people in the history of tennis have beaten the Big Four. I was like, I think this is disgusting. [being one of the men to beat all of the Big 4].
“Novak actually replied [images of his tattoo]he said: “No way, you are really crazy.” We hate each other [at the start]. He loved being loved early in his career. Just like he wants everyone to love him. I was like I knew there was a villain in it. Because now we are really good friends. Now when he goes out to play, it’s like Australians don’t really like it [Novak]. They booed him. I think it’s like when someone wins too much, it’s like fuck, is this person going to lose? …
“Brother, we put him in a refugee hotel [during COVID]. I just thought we can’t let one of the greatest athletes of all time treat him like that… We have a really good relationship now. He is a good man. “
Kyrgios on why Madrid is his favorite stop on ATP Tour:
“Honestly, the best time I ever had was in Madrid. I mean, the women there are beautiful, and then there’s the partying. I guess I like that everything starts very late there. Dinner starts very late. People are napping during the day, so you just recharge at night.”
Kyrgios on joining PTPA lawsuit against ATP:
“As of right now, tennis players get 14.5% of the total revenue. For a global sport like tennis, that’s terrible. Like we get 14%. That’s terrible. For example, NBA players are paid 50% [of league revenue].
“So this is diabolical. Like ATP, some weird stuff is going on. How can you pay 14% to a product? It doesn’t make any sense… I mean I’m one of the names in the lawsuit [vs. the ATP]”.
