Nick Kyrgios, the Australian tennis maverick known for his fiery on-court antics and unfiltered social media presence, stirred the pot once again on July 26, 2025, during the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. When a viral video surfaced of ATP stars Daniil Medvedev and Lorenzo Musetti naming world No. 1 Jannik Sinner as the “smartest player on the Tour,” Kyrgios couldn’t resist taking a swipe. Posting on X, he called the choice “outrageous,” adding a string of shocked and laughing emojis: “Sinner is an OUTRAGEOUS person to say right now 😂😂😂.” His reaction, laced with his signature blend of humor and provocation, reignited a simmering feud rooted in Sinner’s controversial doping case, drawing attention to the complex dynamics between the two players and their peers.
The video, part of a lighthearted media day segment at the Citi DC Open, asked players to name the smartest on tour. Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, picked Sinner without hesitation, while Musetti, Italy’s No. 2 male player, echoed the sentiment, saying, “Jannik, I don’t have to explain this.” Their choices celebrated Sinner’s tactical brilliance, evident in his 2025 season, which included a Wimbledon title, an Australian Open defense, and a fourth Grand Slam at the US Open. Yet, Kyrgios, who competed in doubles at the event alongside Gael Monfils but exited in the first round, found the praise laughable, alluding to Sinner’s doping saga. “He got the same doc back 😂😂😂 we have been played ladies and gentlemen 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔,” Kyrgios posted on X days earlier, referencing Sinner’s decision to rehire his former physical trainer, Umberto Ferrara, after a three-month ban for testing positive for clostebol in March 2024.
Sinner’s doping case has been a lightning rod for controversy. The Italian tested positive twice for the banned anabolic steroid during Indian Wells, but an independent tribunal ruled he bore “no fault or negligence,” attributing the trace amounts—less than a billionth of a gram—to accidental contamination from his physiotherapist’s use of a clostebol-containing spray. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision, seeking a one- to two-year ban, with a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing scheduled for April 2025. Kyrgios has been vocal about his disbelief, arguing the case was mishandled. “It’s just frustrating because I have friends that were banned for two years for doing party drugs,” he said on the UTS Show, comparing Sinner’s lighter punishment to harsher penalties faced by others. “That’s crazy for me.”
Kyrgios’ criticism isn’t new. Since the doping news broke in August 2024, he’s taken repeated jabs, including a cryptic asterisk post after Sinner’s Wimbledon win over Carlos Alcaraz and a scathing comment in Brisbane: “Two world No. 1s both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport.” Despite once calling Sinner his “favourite player” in 2022, Kyrgios clarified on X that his admiration predated the scandal: “This was before he was found with roids in his system.” His outspokenness has polarized fans, with some praising his candor and others, like Andy Roddick, slamming his “hypocrisy” for targeting Sinner while seeking “likes” as a “tennis influencer.”
Sinner, meanwhile, has remained composed, focusing on his game and personal life, including his relationship with WTA player Anna Kalinskaya, Kyrgios’ ex-girlfriend, which some speculate fuels the Aussie’s ire. “I don’t want to respond on what he said. Everyone is free to say everything,” Sinner said at the 2024 US Open, brushing off the prospect of a Kyrgios interview on Arthur Ashe Stadium. His 2025 season, with eight titles and a 60-7 record, speaks for itself, though the doping shadow lingers. Kyrgios, who returned from a two-year wrist injury to reach the 2025 Australian Open third round, named Casper Ruud as the tour’s smartest player, citing the Norwegian’s grounded approach: “He’s very smart and got his stuff sorted.”
As the tennis world gears up for the US Open, where Sinner is the defending champion, Kyrgios’ latest jab adds spice to their off-court rivalry. While the Australian’s doubles campaign in D.C. ended early, his social media shots keep him in the spotlight. Whether driven by principle, personal history, or a knack for drama, Kyrgios ensures the debate over Sinner’s legacy remains as gripping as their potential on-court clash.
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