Nick Kyrgios has hit back at Nicolas Mahut after he came under fire from the former doubles world No 1 over his comments about Jannik Sinner.
Kyrgios has regularly directed strong criticism at Sinner since the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed in August that the Italian star had avoided a ban for failing two doping tests in March.
Sinner tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol during and after the 2024 Indian Wells Masters, but an independent tribunal ruled he carried “no fault or negligence.”
The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.
In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the verdict, seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the world No 1.
Kyrgios has made it clear that he thinks Sinner should have been punished for the failed tests and has suggested he does not believe the two-time major winner’s explanation.
The former world No 13, who is set to make his comeback after over two years out due to injury, has also expressed his desire to play Sinner at next month’s Australian Open.
“Let’s be honest, I just want to go out there and I really want to play Sinner,” Kyrgios said on the Nothing Major podcast.
“If I played him in the Australian Open, I’d get every person in the crowd to get on him. I would turn it into an absolute riot. All respect would go out the window and I would just do anything to win.”
Mahut, who has won five Grand Slam titles in men’s doubles, called out Kyrgios for his attacks and played down the Aussie’s chances of beating Sinner.
“I don’t like these statements,” the 41-year-old told Eurosport.
“He is entitled to give his opinion on Sinner’s positive test, everyone is free to think what they want. But to poison the situation like that… Sinner has never disrespected anyone, he is the No 1 in the world. So it’s not necessary. There is no need to let yourself go like this.
“If he (Sinner) were to play Kyrgios, I think it is more the pre-match climate that would be difficult to manage than the match itself for Sinner.”
In an interview with Telecom Asia Sport, Kyrgios delivered a strong response to Mahut and fired a shot at the Frenchman over his singles achievements.
“I don’t know if there’s a back-and-forth. Nicolas Mahut, on a global level, hasn’t made inroads like I have, so I’ll let that be. And I don’t think the world necessarily cares too much about what Nicolas Mahut has to say,” Kyrgios said.
“I have people like Mahut telling me to be realistic. He was an amazing doubles player, a Grand Slam champion, no doubt, but he didn’t have the singles career I’ve had. That’s probably why he has his opinion.
“But on the singles court, he never had the belief I have, so that opinion means nothing to me. I’ve achieved way more things playing singles than Mahut could have in his entire career. That belief is what separates players.
“[Roger] Federer, [Rafael] Nadal, [Novak] Djokovic — they were the greatest because people were defeated before they even stepped on the court with them. I don’t want to be that player. I’ll always back my ability and my belief.”
Mahut reached a career-high singles ranking of world No 37 and secured four singles titles.
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