Andy Roddick, Nick Kyrgios spar over Jannik Sinner steroid scandal

Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios blasted the International Tennis Integrity Agency's ruling on Tuesday that world No. 1 Jannik Sinner wouldn't be suspended despite testing positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March.

Former American pro and 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick recently commented on the matter, backing up Sinner. Kygrios then took to social media on Thursday to call out the three-time Wimbledon finalist, calling his statement "ridiculous."

That sparked a flood of backlash toward Kyrgios from fans on X and resulted in a brief, yet heated back-and-forth between the two athletes.

One fan responded to the outspoken Aussie's criticism of Roddick, writing "How do you know? Experience? Lmao you are ridiculous bro - give it up," to which Kyrgios wrote "Research. Dumb a--." Roddick then joined the conversation and poked fun at the 2022 Wimbledon finalist's grammar, writing "Dumba-- is one word....."

The investigation concluded that the illegal substance entered Sinner's system unintentionally through a massage from a physiotherapist. The 2024 Australian Open champion was docked the $325,000 and 400 points that he earned at the March tournament in Indian Wells but avoided a suspension. The 23-year-old Sinner made his first major semifinal at the All-England Club in 2023 and his title down under was his first Grand Slam singles crown.

He fell in this year's French Open semifinals before entering Wimbledon as the top seed, but fell to Daniil Medvedev in five sets (6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3.) in the quarterfinals.

Sinner was reportedly "hampered by illness, with a doctor called to the court to check his blood pressure in the third set before a lengthy medical timeout" during the match against Medvedev. Weeks later, he announced that he wouldn't be competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris due to tonsillitis .

Sinner will next compete at the U.S. Open as the No. 1 seed and face 140th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald in the first round on Monday.