Andy Roddick defends Jannik Sinner following Nick Kyrgios attacks

Roddick, a former US Open champion, labelled Kyrgios a "tennis influencer" who "lives for likes" as he accused the Australian of "hypocrisy."

Kyrgios has relentlessly directed criticism and verbal barbs at Sinner since August, when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that the Italian had avoided a ban for failing two doping tests in March.

Sinner tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol during and after the 2024 Indian Wells Masters, but an independent tribunal ruled he carried "no fault or negligence."

The tribunal accepted Sinner's explanation that the substance had entered his body when receiving a massage from his former physio, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.

In September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the verdict, seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the world No 1.

Kyrgios has made it clear that he thinks Sinner should have been punished for the failed tests and has suggested he does not believe the two-time major winner's explanation.

In reply to a post on X, the 29-year-old Aussie seemingly accused Roddick of taking performance-enhancing drugs after the American's comments on Sinner and Iga Swiatek's doping cases.

Speaking on the latest episode of his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick broke his silence over Kyrgios' comments and hit back strongly.

"I chose to understand the context (of the Sinner case) and explain it in a way that wasn't just, 'You're doping, kick you out forever', but that maybe there was some nuance and maybe our doping protocols were a little overzealous," the 32-time ATP titlist said.

"Anyways, he insinuated that because I had that opinion that I must have done performance-enhancing drugs during my career. Open book, tons of tests. So basically, if you test positive you should be banned forever and if you never failed a test, you also have done drugs.

"That p***ed me off. I decided to lay off (responding) because it's this weird thing where he wants the likes. At this point, he is a tennis influencer. He lives for likes, he lives in the comments section.

"There are a lot of things, he looks cool and he's one of the most talented players I've ever seen in my life. I do not say that hyperbolically. He is on par, with just racket wizardry, of the Big Three. He is exciting to watch, you can't take your eyes off this guy when he is playing well.

"But, the part that I have an issue with is the hypocrisy with which he picks and chooses on when to levy judgement on others while also wanting you to digest context of his comments. The latest being, Cruz Hewitt, son of Lleyton, practises with Jannik Sinner.

"Obviously Kyrgios has been the single most outspoken critic of Jannik Sinner on the heels of his failed doping tests last year.

"So, Cruz Hewitt is 16 years old - son of Lleyton, who is the toughest competitor that I ever played in my life - gets to hit with a guy who is number one in the world at the Australian Open. That is a big deal.

"Imagine as an almost 30-year-old man, going into the comments of a 16-year-old who's just hit with someone who is the best player in the world. If you think he is guilty, if you think he is not guilty, it's still a moment when you get to do that.

"That's a big moment and to simply post a picture and then have this guy go into the comments and make it all about himself: 'Oh, I thought we were bros'. One, it's just making it about you, which he does.

"The defence was, 'Oh mate, it was a joke.' The lack of awareness you have with bringing trolls and all of the worst parts of tennis fandom into a 16 year old's comments is ridiculous. It's ridiculous."

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