As the 2025 Italian Open was about to kick off, Kyrgios taunted Sinner violently. The 30-year-old replied to a post on social media in which he publicly denied the possibility of the Italian achieving excellent results at the upcoming Rome Masters. The remarks also came as Sinner ended his suspension.
Previously, Sinner was banned for three months after testing positive for banned drugs. However, the allegation is believed to have been the result of misuse in his physiotherapist treatment. Kyrgios became one of the strongest critics of the ruling, arguing that the punishment was too light. He sparked a debate on social media, saying that players with more resources tend to be treated more leniently. Kyrgios called the decision "unfair" and said it was a "sad moment" for the tennis world.
While Kyrgios remained silent during Sinner's suspension, he later spoke out again against it, questioning Sinner's status as world number one. The controversy stemmed from tennis legend Scott Barclay's confidence in Sinner's performance in Rome, and he optimistically predicted that the Italian would win the title.
"Sinner will win against Roma, and the ATP Tour will have to seriously reflect on himself." Barkley wrote on the X platform. Kyrgios couldn't help but join the discussion, sarcastically denying Sinner's chances of winning the title, "Why? Is he a gifted legend? I'm not surprised at all. ”
Kyrgios is back in action in 2025 after more than two years away from the game. However, the Australian couldn't withstand the pressure and went back-to-back first-round exits in Brisbane, Melbourne and Indian Wells.
During the suspension, Sinner had mixed emotions. He mentioned that he was reluctant to accept the ban at first, but eventually decided to put aside the controversy and move forward. Despite missing four major Masters tournaments as a result, the 23-year-old is glad he hasn't missed a single Grand Slam event.
"Of course, there are two outcomes of a lawsuit – nothing, or a lot to lose. I didn't want to accept a settlement at first, so it wasn't easy for me to accept because I knew what was really going on. But sometimes, we have to make the best choices in tough times, and we do. The good news for me personally is that I don't miss a single Grand Slam event. He said at his pre-match press conference.
Although Sinner admits he doesn't have high expectations for the upcoming matchup, he is gearing up for the fight and will face top opponents including Zverev and Alcaraz. The Italian will be aiming to win his 20th tour title, with his first comeback match scheduled for May 9.
However, Ruud recently gave his opinion on Sinner's imminent return to action. The Norwegian is one of the few to publicly support Sinner, and he once again expressed his support for his ATP counterpart.
Previously, Ruud had said in an interview with well-known tennis journalist Ben Rosenberg: "I feel sorry for him. In my opinion, he didn't do anything wrong on purpose. You know, this has happened before, although uncommonly, through a settlement in a doping case, which may come as a surprise to some. ”
Speaking to Sky Sports about his upcoming Rome Masters, Ruud said he was looking forward to Sinner's return, "I expect him to be warmly welcomed and cheered on by the fans and I'm looking forward to seeing him back on the pitch on Saturday. I haven't met him in person yet, but I'm looking forward to meeting him and maybe chatting, and it's great to see him back. I've expressed my views on this ban before, and I've always tried my best to support it. ”
Ruud, who has just won his first Masters title at the Madrid Masters, also said that Sinner is likely to play at a high level in Rome, "I know it's been a difficult time for him, but I'm glad he's back." You know, he's not out because of injury. So I hope he can play well. He's likely to be on fire right out of the game. I hope he can play a good game in Rome. ”(Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark)