Tsitsipas says Kyrgios cocaine suspension was 'pretty much expected'

Stefanos Tsitsipas has expressed little surprise at Nick Kyrgios's suspension from professional tennis following a positive test for cocaine, saying the development was something he had anticipated before it became public.

Pretty much expected, to be honest. I am surprised it came so late, though.

Tsitsipas remarked when asked about the matter on Monday after defeating Arthur Fils, the No 10 seed, in the opening round of the US Open.

The Australian player tested positive for the substance at an ATP 250 tournament held in Mallorca. According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency, Kyrgios provided the sample on 22 June 2026, and a WADA-accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine on 17 July 2026. In an Instagram announcement made in August, Kyrgios acknowledged having

made a huge mistake

and disclosed that he had received a provisional suspension from the sport.

The provisional suspension took effect on 4 August 2026, and the ITIA confirmed that Kyrgios is barred from participating in, coaching at, or attending any events sanctioned by World Tennis bodies while the case remains open. He has not appealed the provisional suspension to date. The potential length of any final ban could range significantly depending on the circumstances of the case, with reports indicating the suspension could be limited to as little as three months if Kyrgios can demonstrate the substance was consumed outside of competition, or possibly one month if he participates in a treatment programme.

What did Tsitsipas say about prior knowledge?

The Greek player claimed he had been aware of the situation before any official announcement was made public.

I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. Myself, I knew about it,

he stated.

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.

Tsitsipas further suggested he had heard discussions on the professional tennis circuit about Kyrgios's conduct away from competition.

I knew that those were things that were happening away from the tennis courts. I will tell you that. I'm not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for. I'll consider myself a nice person with everyone, but these were behaviors that I personally heard on the tour and heard other people in that same environment saying those sort of things to me.

What is the history between these two players?

Tsitsipas and Kyrgios have had a contentious relationship on court. Their most notable clash occurred at Wimbledon in 2022, when Kyrgios reached his only Grand Slam final. During that match, Tsitsipas struck several shots directly at Kyrgios, deliberately hit a ball into the crowd, and subsequently referred to his opponent as a

bully

in post-match comments.

What has Kyrgios said about his circumstances?

Kyrgios has attributed his actions to the cumulative toll of injuries sustained over recent years. In his Instagram post announcing the suspension, he wrote:

I'm not going to make excuses, but I do want to give some context about where I've been. The last couple of years of injuries have taken a huge toll on me, both physically and mentally. My body hasn't been able to do what my mind expects it to do, and coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined.

He also described the episode as a

wake up call

after injuries had left him feeling

helpless and alone

. The positive test came at a particularly difficult juncture in his career: Kyrgios had competed in only 10 singles matches on the ATP Tour since his peak season in 2022, underscoring how injuries and his attempted comeback have framed this situation.

What happens next in the case?

The anti-doping case remains active before tennis authorities, with the outcome hinging on whether Kyrgios can establish that the cocaine was consumed outside of competition. If he does not contest the provisional suspension or fails to successfully challenge the timing of the substance's use, the sanction process could advance rapidly, with a determination on his eligibility potentially reached by 4 September 2026.