Emma Raducanu's ex-coach bluntly tells Nick Kyrgios to stop shading Jannik Sinner

12/02/2024 04:09 PM

Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray's former coach Mark Petchey is telling Nick Kyrgios that it is time for him to "give a rest" to calling out Jannik Sinner over his doping case since the Italian has been proven innocent so far.

As you probably know very well, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist has been one of the Italian's harshest critics for the past couple of months. The moment the ITIA made the initial announcement, the Australian slammed it as "ridiculous" and added that the world No. 1 should have been banned for at least two years. 

However, that was just the beginning as Kyrgios has since taken numerous shots at Sinner and remains firm in his belief that the reigning Australian Open and US Open champion should be out of the game.

In August, the ITIA revealed that the Italian twice tested positive for steroid clostebol but that he was able to prove that it came from a contaminated product so the investigation concluded that he "bore no fault ot negligence." At the time, Sinner explained that his now-former physio Giacomo Naldi used over-the-counter spray to treat a cut on his finger, which later turned out to be contaminated with a banned substance. 

However, Kyrgios never accepted that explanation. And when the WADA decided to appeal the ITIA decision, he brutally laughed at the 23-year-old and also cheekily remarked: "Hahaha maybe not so innocent after all eh?"

Addressing that, current commentator and analyst Petchey thinks the Australian has gone too far.

“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,” the former British tennis player told Betway.

The news of the two-time Grand Slam champion failing two doping tests came out on August 20th, the week before the start of the US Open. In the next couple of days, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up was regularly calling out the handling of the Italian's case. 

Then, the US Open started, where the 29-year-old worked as a commentator and analyst. And while on air, Kyrgios explained on ESPN that it was "nothing personal" against Sinner but that he simply didn't think it was a fair handling. 

“I think I stand by every word. Everything I put on social media I have to stand up for. I’ve seen many of my friends go through doping things and being suspended. We’ve seen players like Halep and everyone and it seems like every time one of these things comes up, there’s always a different process for different players," Kyrgios said on ESPN during his conversation with Chris Fowler.

"It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. I know how important he is. He’s one of the greatest tennis players we have right now... And how important he’s gonna be for the next 15 years. I’m not denying any of that. Nothing against him personally. If you look at Jenson Brooksby... Players who’ve had their careers taken away for up to a year... And someone like Sinner just kind of doing it his own kind of way. I think he had it on his own terms for most of the time. I don’t think that’s fair and equal for the rest of the tour.”

Then, Kyrgios questioned the explanation that was given for the positive doping test. 

“Every physio that’s employed by a player, as well as every player, we get sent a prohibited substance list every year. On page 5, it says ‘Prohibited at all times’. If there’s a clearing we need to get a definition of what ‘Prohibited at all times’ means. I’m pretty sure that means no matter what amount or if it comes up or if it shows up… that means you tested positive," the Australian added at the time.

"I guess there’s a grey area in what ‘Prohibited at all times’ means. Why is his team carrying a banned substance that we know is completely not necessary in the sport is another question itself. Guys like Alcaraz have been asked and kind of stayed neutral on it. But at the same time there’s a lot of things I think and details we have been told as well.”

During the US Open - where Sinner landed his second Major title - he was asked about Kyrgios' constant criticism. However, the world No. 1 wasn't interested in responding, simply saying everyone was entitled to their opinion.