Amidst a doping crisis, Nick Kyrgios is refusing to back down in the hope of a fair system, referring to two world No.1s testing positive as “disgusting for our sport”.
World No.1 Jannik Sinner and world No.2 Iga Świątek were both tested positive for banned substances in 2024 for different reasons.
Given players such as Simona Halep and Tara Moore have expressed their frustration about being treated differently after testing positive for banned substances, Kyrgios has always believed in a fair process.
Upon his arrival for the upcoming Brisbane International, the former Wimbledon finalist didn't hold back on his assessment of the situation.
"Someone like me who I would never even in my entire life ever try and dope in this sport — is something, especially going through an injury like I went through, there are things out there that could speed up healing, help me get back to prime level, help my recovery," Kyrgios said. "There's so many things out there that are prohibited in our sport that I could have been doing to get me back quicker.
"Two years out of the sport in my prime, basically I was 28, competing for Wimbledon, US Open. I had an injury where I could have been doing things to get back. That's just not who I am. I'm always against that.
"So for me, when people are saying that I'm disrespectful to the sport, I think someone like that that has tried to cheat the process, and actually not done it completely on their own merit, is the disrespectful one in my opinion."
Since the public was made aware of Sinner's doping case before this year's US Open, there was an evident divide between those who sympathised with the Italian and those who showed no mercy.
Kyrgios has been on the latter spectrum since day one — but although it's claimed that one billionth of a gram of Clostebol was found in Sinner's system when he tested positive twice, the 29-year-old Aussie isn't buying it.
"I have to be outspoken about it because I don't think there's enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug and saying that about the amount and all this," he said.
"It's like nothing about that. And there's no fair treatment for every single player. We've seen that with Max Purcell. The reason that's different is because he went to the authorities first, he admitted he had done something that was on the prohibited list. He was outspoken about it. That's how it should be, rather than all this sweeping under the rug, not knowing, question marks.
"Okay, he's No.1 in the world, he is an amazing tennis player. I never said he's not. I just think the treatment has to be fair for everyone. I just think that it's been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world No.1s both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It's a horrible look.
"But no one wants to speak about it, it's awful. It's actually awful. And it's not okay.
"I know that people don't like when I just speak out about things, be honest about things. For a kid [who] grew up playing tennis, I enjoyed the competition, I enjoyed playing. I can get emotional, I can throw a racquet, but that's nothing compared to cheating and taking performance-enhancing drugs. That's ridiculous in my opinion.
"I'm not going to shut up about it… That's just my honest thoughts."
Sinner's case is pending a definitive conclusion at the hands of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), expected to be announced in February next year.
Returning from injury after an 18-month absence from the ATP Tour, Kyrgios is set to face Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Brisbane International.
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