The WTA’s 15th-ranked player began a relationship with Sinner earlier this year and has been seen supporting him during his recent US Open appearances. On Saturday, Kyrgios made a comment on a throwback photo of himself with Kalinskaya at an LA Lakers game in 2020. His reaction comes despite the controversy surrounding Sinner’s recent doping case. Despite testing positive twice for the banned substance clostebol in March, Sinner was cleared of any fault or negligence.
This decision, supported by a panel of experts who accepted Sinner’s explanation of contamination, allowed him to continue competing until his formal hearing. The ruling meant no suspension for Sinner, but Kyrgios has been vocally critical, suggesting he should face a two-year ban.
Kyrgios criticized Sinner’s cleared doping case, suggesting a two-year ban despite the panel ruling in Sinner’s favor
The online buzz has speculated that Kyrgios’s comments might stem from personal bitterness due to Sinner’s relationship with his former partner, Kalinskaya. In addressing the past, Kyrgios commented on the old photo with a simple remark: “Second serve.”
Although Kyrgios was not tagged in the post and there was no accompanying text, he found the image, which was soon deleted by the poster. Despite the swift removal, screenshots of the post spread widely, leading to serious backlash against Kyrgios.
Kyrgios responded by questioning why he was being criticized, saying, “I’m the bad guy for mentioning it? I didn’t bring it up lol,” and included a laughing emoji. He added that people shouldn’t be offended if the topic comes up, emphasizing it was not his intention to stir controversy.
Neither Sinner nor Kalinskaya has publicly addressed the history between Kyrgios and Kalinskaya since they started their relationship. Rumors of Kyrgios and Kalinskaya dating first surfaced when they were seen together at a Staples Center event in early 2020.
