In a recent post-match incident in Rio de Janeiro, French tennis player Alexandre Muller voiced his displeasure at having to undergo a late-night doping test, a displeasure that caught the attention of Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios. Muller, currently sitting at a respectable 60th position in global rankings, had just emerged victorious from a nail-biting match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the round-of-16 at the Rio Open. Immediately after the match, anti-doping officers were waiting to administer a test.
Muller felt it was unfair to be subjected to a doping test so late in the day. Expressing his annoyance on social media, the 28-year-old athlete questioned the ATP Tour’s decision to conduct a doping test at midnight.
Kyrgios, who has become known for his outspoken nature, used this opportunity to share his own take on the situation. The Australian, who finished as runner-up in the 2022 Wimbledon tournament, has been repeatedly calling out fellow tennis player Jannik Sinner over the past few months. Kyrgios then responded to Muller’s complaint with a dose of his signature sarcasm.
The Australian advised Muller to feign ignorance if his test results turned out positive for doping substances. Using his wit, Kyrgios suggested that Muller could simply blame his team for any potential doping findings.
Kyrgios’ sarcastic response doesn’t come as a surprise, given his recent reaction to Sinner’s agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on a three-month doping ban. Kyrgios has been vocal in his criticism of the perceived lack of fairness in tennis, using Sinner’s case as an example.
The Australian expressed his frustration over the fact that despite WADA initially proposing a one to two-year ban, Sinner’s team managed to negotiate it down to just three months, without any loss of titles or prize money. Kyrgios concluded his comments by labelling the incident a “sad day for tennis,” questioning the fairness of the sport and suggesting that the concept of fairness in tennis is non-existent.
In the world of professional tennis, doping tests and subsequent controversies have become a prevalent issue. These recent interactions and comments from notable players like Muller and Kyrgios only serve to highlight the ongoing debates surrounding fairness and integrity in the sport.