Stefanos Tsitsipas has stated that Nick Kyrgios's suspension from tennis for cocaine use came as no surprise, saying it was "pretty much expected" and that he had known about it before the public announcement.
Speaking after his first-round victory at the US Open on Monday, Tsitsipas said: "Pretty much expected, to be honest. I am surprised it came so late, though." The Greek player upset the No 10 seed, Arthur Fils, in that match.
Kyrgios's Positive Test and Provisional Ban
Kyrgios tested positive for cocaine in June while competing at an ATP 250 event in Mallorca. In an Instagram post in August, the Australian admitted he had "made a huge mistake" and revealed he had been given a provisional ban from tennis. He could face a suspension of up to four years, though a lighter punishment is anticipated.
Tsitsipas elaborated on his prior knowledge: "I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. Myself, I knew about it. So what can I tell you? I will just tell you the truth. I knew about all of this before any announcement was made, and when I saw it on social media, I was, like, 'Here we go.' I kind of expected it, to be honest."
History of Clashes Between Tsitsipas and Kyrgios
The two players have a history of on-court friction, most notably during their fiery third-round match at Wimbledon in 2022, where Kyrgios reached his only grand slam final. During that encounter, Tsitsipas hit several shots directly at Kyrgios, intentionally struck a ball into the crowd, and later called Kyrgios a "bully."
Tsitsipas did not mince words when discussing Kyrgios's behaviour away from the court: "I knew that those were things that were happening away from the tennis courts. I will tell you that. I'm not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for. I'll consider myself a nice person with everyone, but these were behaviors that I personally heard on the tour and heard other people in that same environment saying those sort of things to me."
Kyrgios's Struggles and Statement
Kyrgios has been battling a series of injuries since his Wimbledon run and has spoken about the toll they have taken. In his Instagram post announcing the suspension, he wrote: "I'm not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I've been. The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body hasn't been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined."
He also said he had felt "helpless and alone" during this period. The suspension, which could last up to four years, leaves Kyrgios's tennis future uncertain as he deals with both the ban and his ongoing physical challenges.
