Nick Kyrgios was left furious after finding out that Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill was presented the 2024 Coaching Excellence honour at the Australian Tennis Awards on Monday, labelling the announcement ‘a joke’.
As he prepares for his return to tennis, Kyrgios has been among the most vocal critics of world No.1 Jannik Sinner for returning two positive drug tests earlier this year.
When news reached Kyrgios that Sinner’s coach was the recipient of the 2024 Coaching Excellence award from Tennis Australia, he was left fuming.
‘This is a joke right – have some class and integrity people,’ he posted on X.
Sinner first tested positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol during Indian Wells on March 10, then again eight days later.
He was provisionally suspended, but on both occasions he successfully appealed and was allowed to continue playing while the evidence was assessed.
Nick Kyrgios was left fuming after finding out that Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill was awarded the 2024 Coaching Excellence award by Tennis Australia
Jannik Sinner pictured with coaches Simone Vagnozzi (left) and Darren Cahill (right)
The International Tennis Integrity Agency took the case to an independent tribunal in August, when Sinner’s explanation for why there had been an extremely small quantity of clostebol in his system – less than a billionth of a gram – was accepted.
Sinner was successful in convincing the tribunal that his two positive tests had been a consequence of contamination.
Sinner’s explanation for the banned substance entering his system was due to his physio Umberto Ferrara using a spray that contained clostebol to treat a wound on the tennis star’s finger.
The 23-year-old’s team explained Ferrara had purchased the spray in Italy, one of the few countries that allows people to purchase products containing clostebol over-the-counter.
Kyrgios, who has called Sinner a drug cheat, insists he has no issue with Sinner personally, but admitted he will struggle to look past the saga if they ever face on another on court.
‘It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. He’s one of the greatest tennis players we have right now. I’m not denying that. Nothing against him personally,’ Kyrgios said.
‘I’m definitely not going to be warm and hospitable like I was before. I just want a level playing field for everyone. That’s what this fight is for.
‘I got tested at my hotels two days ago. We do get tested consistently. This is a sport I’ve played my whole life. If the playing field isn’t the same for everyone, you kind of lose the integrity of the sport a little bit.’
Sinner returned two positive drug tests earlier this year
Kyrgios has been a loud critic of Sinner and other players who have tested positve
Meanwhile, Kyrgios announced last week that he is aiming to make his highly-anticipated Grand Slam return at the Australian Open in January.
The 29-year-old will make his return to the court at the World Tennis League this month, having only played one game of professional tennis in the past two years due to injury.
He had ruled himself out of the Australian Open in 2023 due to a knee injury that required surgery, before having to pull out of the French Open later that year with a foot injury.
However, now, it’s been confirmed that Kyrgios will finally make his return to a tennis major for the Australian Open next month.
Kyrgios, who will play with a protected ranking of 21, will be one of six men and six women using protected rankings at Melbourne Park.
