Former player urges Nick Kyrgios to ‘give it a rest’ for his brutal digs at Jannik Sinner over drug scandal

Mark Petchey said Nick Kyrgios needs to stop slamming Jannik Sinner because WADA's appeal may end up affecting his career.

Former player urges Nick Kyrgios to ‘give it a rest’ for his brutal digs at Jannik Sinner over drug scandal

Jannik Sinner, Nick Kyrgios (Images via X)

Jannik Sinner‘s two failed drug tests were kept under wraps for about five months until the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the same in August leading to a massive controversy. That the Italian avoided a ban meant criticisms from every corner and Nick Kyrgios never minced his words while slamming Sinner on X.

Recently he wrote, ‘OUR SPORT IS COOKED‘ when World No. 2 Iga Swiatek also landed in trouble and was handed a one-month suspension for failing a drug test. The Aussie accused both Sinner and Swiatek of making excuses in another tweet.

Former player and current commentator Mark Petchey however urged Kyrgios to stop making snide remarks on Sinner as his career is on the line. Although Sinner wasn’t banned, there’s a possibility of him missing about a year of tennis because of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Yes, Nick Kyrgios needs to give it a rest. Sinner has been found not guilty, right? And we’re about to get the WADA appeal. Let’s just wait for that. You have to let the process go through due care and attention. This is a massive thing. It is somebody’s career.

Mark Petchey said in an interview with Betway

CAS will give its verdict not before February which means Sinner will have the chance to defend his Australian Open title.

Mark Petchey doesn’t agree with Nick Kyrgios that current players are boring

Nick Kyrgios, who has a reputation for being a hothead, thinks current tennis players are boring but Mark Petchey explained it’s not the case at all. Petchey compared today’s players to Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe who had contrasting personalities.

Nick-Kyrgios-Australia
Nick Kyrgios (Image via Sky Sports)

It was Mac who brought the passion, Jimmy Connors the bad boy. Borg the ice. You need great rivalries and different personalities. It is Fire and Ice 2.0 for me with Jannik and Carlos (Alcaraz). We might not have the trash talk of the 80s but tennis actually is an unbelievably healthy space. 

Mark Petchey said in an interview with Betway

Kyrgios is still on the sidelines due to multiple injuries and hasn’t played a match since June 2023. Although the 29-year-old thought of retirement and became a commentator, he has planned to make his comeback at the Australian Open in 2025. Kyrgios has reached just one Grand Slam singles final, at the 2022 Wimbledon which he lost to Novak Djokovic.