Jannik Sinner and Nick Kyrgios do not have much of a history on the court, having met just once on the ATP Tour.
But there is certainly plenty of tension between Sinner and Kyrgios off it, at least from the latter’s point of view.
Kyrgios wants to play Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open, with the home favourite explaining that he would do everything it takes to win.
His comments come after a lengthy vendetta against the Italian, with Kyrgios very vocal about Sinner’s drugs case.
Sinner was ‘relaxed’ about Kyrgios’s criticism, with such an approach having also transpired during their one and only tour-level match.
How Jannik Sinner reacted to Nick Kyrgios’s 2022 Miami Open meltdown
They met in the round of 16 of the 2022 ATP Masters 1,000 Miami, during which the Australian had various meltdowns.
Kyrgios was in a constant battle with the chair umpire, with his emotions boiling over as he smashed his racket against his bag and on the ground several times.
Frustration had been simmering all match, but the outburst on court led to a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct and a game penalty for the hot-headed figure.
Remarkably, Sinner kept his focus throughout the entire ordeal, with the Italian remaining still and in the zone as Kyrgios unleashed his anger.
Unsurprisingly, Sinner emerged victorious with a 7-6(3), 6-3 win, embracing his furious opponent at the net before shaking hands with the umpire.
What did Jannik Sinner say about his match with Nick Kyrgios?
Discussing his approach, the Italian told Amazon Prime: “I just tried to stay in the present moment. I know that he can raise his level immediately, especially when he breaks.
“At 4-3 (in the second set) if I serve worse there, he can get back into the match. I tried to stay calm somehow and think I’ve done a great job today.
“Today, I raised my level a bit. I tried to play a bit more aggressive. The conditions are a bit easier, it’s not as windy.
“I tried to stay close to the lines. I also served well in important moments. It can give me a lot of confidence for the next round.”
And adding further comments on the game in his post-match press conference, Sinner said: “I knew before the match that I had to raise the level a little bit, because, you know, he’s the kind of player who pushes a lot the ball.
“When he’s serving well, also his return gets better. I tried to stay there every point, which I have done, so I think it was a positive match.”
Jannik Sinner leads Nick Kyrgios 1-0 in ATP Tour head-to-head matches
The pair were set to have their first meeting at the 2022 ATP Masters 1,000 Indian Wells, again in the round of 16, but Sinner’s withdrawal saw Kyrgios progress.
Just a second career match could, therefore, be in store at the 2025 Australian Open, which would draw huge attention.
Kyrgios would undoubtedly look to use the home crowd to his advantage, with the former world 13 set to need all the help he can get given the form of the world number one.
READ MORE: The day Nick Kyrgios received the biggest fine of his tennis career and what happened on court
They are, of course, at two very different stages of their careers, with Kyrgios just back from a lengthy spell out injured and Sinner looking to defend his Australian Open title.
But plenty of eyes will also be on 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, with the Serbian intriguingly hiring former rival Andy Murray as his coach for the Grand Slam.
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