Jannik Sinner, fans enraged by Nick Kyrgios's latest provocation

“You are my favorite player, I want you to win: I will throw the party”: Nick Kyrgios&#8217s words to Carlos Alcaraz, reported by the Australian news outlet The Age, have caused no small controversy, provoking first and foremost the fury of Jannik Sinner&#8217s fans, who are convinced that the ’praise for the Murcian by the ‘bad boy’ of world tennis, who has been engaged for some time now more off the court than on it, are yet another jab at the South Tyrolean, for whom he has never hidden a certain animosity.

A feeling of hostility, Kyrgios&#8217s toward Sinner, that certainly did not arise today. The Australian, increasingly prominent for his media outings rather than results, has often directed biting comments, bordering on provocation if not beyond, at the Azure. From insinuations about the so-called ‘Clostebol&#8216 case; to constant jibes at the current world number two, Kyrgios has built month after month, including through social media, a polemical narrative that has fueled tensions and discussions on the circuit.

Francesco Lucivero

In spite of this, Sinner has always chosen the path of silence. Even in the face of the most biting, if not downright venomous, jokes, the South Tyrolean has never wanted to retort to the Australian, maintaining a balanced profile and focusing exclusively on responding to him on the court. Not even in Kyrgios’ homeland, Australia, did Sinner succumb to the temptation to respond controversially to the outbursts of the 1995-class tennis player, who this year participated in the Million Point Slam but not in the Australian Open, forgoing the chance for a wild card.

Then to defend Sinner there were his many fans who, especially on social media, responded not without harshness even to the Greek-born tennis player&#8217s latest provocation, also pointing out that Alcaraz himself never wanted to enter the discussion, on the contrary, always declaring himself a close friend of Sinner himself.

Kyrgios&#8217s latest words, addressed to Alcaraz but also indirectly to Sinner, thus represent another spark in a now-established dynamic, which fans read as yet another attempt, not even too effective, to belittle the blue player. True to his style, however, Sinner is unlikely to get carried away, leaving as always the final word to the field.