Stefanos Tsitsipas stated after defeating Arthur Fils at the US Open that he was not surprised by Nick Kyrgios testing positive for cocaine.
Kyrgios was provisionally suspended effective 4 August 2026 after a sample taken on 22 June 2026 at the Mallorca Championships tested positive for benzoylecgonine.
The 31-year-old Australian chose not to appeal the provisional sanction, calling the positive test a huge mistake linked to mental strain from career injuries.
Tsitsipas and Kyrgios have a 4-1 head-to-head singles record, with tensions escalating during their volatile third-round match at Wimbledon in 2022.
Stefanos Tsitsipas addressed the provisional doping suspension of Nick Kyrgios following his opening-round win at the US Open on Monday. The 28-year-old Greek, a former world number 3 currently ranked 53rd, defeated 10th-seeded French player Arthur Fils in four sets (4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4) before taking questions from reporters. Tsitsipas stated that he was not surprised by the positive cocaine test, noting that word of Kyrgios's conduct had circulated among players and personnel on the professional tour long before the official announcement. He added that he saw no reason to conceal information when he believed the facts were already known within the sport.
“To be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. 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.”
The disciplinary action stems from an in-competition doping control conducted on 22 June 2026 during the ATP 250 Mallorca Championships in Spain. A World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory confirmed on 17 July 2026 that the sample contained benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine that remains detectable in the body longer than the parent compound. The International Tennis Integrity Agency imposed a mandatory provisional suspension that took effect on 4 August 2026, followed by a public announcement on 19 August 2026. Under the terms of the provisional measure, Kyrgios cannot compete, train, or attend any events organized by the ATP, WTA, Grand Slam tournaments, or national tennis federations while the case remains open.
The 31-year-old Australian has not filed an appeal against the provisional order and published a statement on Instagram accepting responsibility. Kyrgios explained that years of persistent physical injuries had created severe mental strain as he struggled with the prospect of concluding his professional career. Under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, cocaine is classified as a prohibited substance in competition, carrying potential suspensions of up to four years depending on case classifications.
“I recently failed an anti-doping test in Mallorca after testing positive for cocaine. I made a huge mistake and I take full responsibility.”
The public exchange adds to a turbulent relationship between Tsitsipas and Kyrgios, who have competed against each other five times in singles matches on the ATP Tour. Although the pair teamed up in doubles on three occasions (twice in 2019 and once in 2022), their personal dynamic fractured during the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. In that third-round encounter, which Kyrgios won in four sets before reaching the final against Novak Djokovic, Tsitsipas hit a ball into the crowd and aimed multiple shots at the Australian. After the match, Tsitsipas accused Kyrgios of bullying and possessing an evil side, while Kyrgios countered that the Greek player had serious personal issues. Kyrgios had also posted frequent social media criticisms regarding Jannik Sinner's three-month suspension for a clostebol finding in 2024, an issue Sinner never publicly addressed.
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Following a four-set victory over Arthur Fils in New York, Stefanos Tsitsipas stated that Nick Kyrgios's provisional suspension for cocaine came as no surprise on the tour.
AI text based on reports by Blick.ch, Ouest France, ANSA.it and other publishers. Published .