Nick Kyrgios is under fire for his recent comments about Cruz Hewitt, the 16-year-old son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt.
Cruz is attempting to qualify for the Australian Open this week and was spotted having a hit with World No.1 Jannik Sinner on Rod Laver Arena.
But Kyrgios took a swipe at the young tennis player on social media, labelling his post with Sinner as “cooked” and telling him “thought we were boys”.
What’s Behind Kyrgios’ Outburst?
Kyrgios’ comments come on the heels of his outrage over recent doping scandals involving Sinner and Iga Swiatek. Sinner twice tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March last year, but avoided a ban because the ITIA determined he was not to blame for the substance entering his system.
Kyrgios has been vocal about his dislike of doping in tennis, calling it “disgusting for our sport” and saying that he would never try to cheat to get ahead.
A Joke Gone Wrong?
Kyrgios claimed that his comments about Cruz were just a joke, but many are calling him out for his behavior.
Leading tennis reporter Bastien Fachan said that Kyrgios’ comments were “way over the line” and constituted a “harassment campaign” against the young player.
Others have labelled Kyrgios’ comments as “embarrassing” and “pathetic”.
Kyrgios Questions Sinner’s Story
Kyrgios has also been questioning Sinner’s story about how he was contaminated with the banned steroid. Sinner claims that his physiotherapist accidentally contaminated him during a massage, but Kyrgios is skeptical.
He said that he would be “livid” if his own physiotherapist had contaminated him and wouldn’t understand why Sinner kept his team on for five months after the incident.
The Tennis World Reacts
The tennis world is divided on Kyrgios’ comments, with some defending his right to speak out against doping and others condemning his behavior as unacceptable.
One thing is for sure, though – Kyrgios is never afraid to speak his mind and stir up controversy. But was his joke about Cruz Hewitt a step too far? Let us know what you think in the comments!