Tsitsipas: I knew about Kyrgios' cocaine ban before it was announced — SkimNews
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- Stefanos Tsitsipas said Kyrgios's drug suspension was 'pretty much expected' and that he was 'surprised it came so late,' claiming he knew about the positive test before any official announcement.
- Nick Kyrgios was suspended earlier this month after testing positive for cocaine in June while in Spain for a tennis event, and could face a four-year ban though a lighter punishment is expected.
- Tsitsipas was asked about Kyrgios on Monday after upsetting No. 10-seeded Arthur Fils in the first round of the US Open in New York.
- Tsitsipas said he had 'heard about these behaviors away from the tennis courts' from people in the same environment on tour, declining to 'cover up' what he said he already knew.
- Tsitsipas and Kyrgios played a fiery Wimbledon match in 2022 — Kyrgios's only Grand Slam final — after which Tsitsipas called Kyrgios a 'bully' and intentionally hit balls at him and into the crowd.
- Kyrgios said when suspended that he had felt 'helpless and alone,' conceding that 'none of that excuses what I did.'
- Sky Sports framed the story around Tsitsipas's prior knowledge, mirroring the dominant angle: that the suspension confirmed what was already an open secret on tour.
Why it matters: Tsitsipas's comments elevate a personal grievance from 2022 into an industry claim that Kyrgios's off-court behavior was common knowledge among peers, adding peer pressure to the narrative surrounding Kyrgios's doping case as he awaits a ruling that could sideline him for up to four years. The timing — surfaced at a Grand Slam Kyrgios has largely missed due to injuries — ensures the story runs while Kyrgios is already absent from competition.
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