"Absolute machine from the back of the court": Nick Kyrgios gives Jannik Sinner a remarkable verdict after their long-running feud
ATP
Nick Kyrgios has spent the last two years as one of Jannik Sinner's most vocal critics, but the Australian has now offered a very different assessment of the Italian's tennis. During an Instagram Q&A, Kyrgios was asked by a follower to “Describe playing Sinner” and responded with an unusually detailed breakdown of what makes the world No.1 so difficult to face.
Rather than mentioning their long-running dispute over Sinner's doping case, Kyrgios focused entirely on the Italian's qualities as a player. He highlighted his baseline game, his ability to turn defence into attack and the improvements he has made to areas that were once considered weaknesses.
The timing makes the comments particularly notable. Kyrgios repeatedly questioned the handling of Sinner's doping case and the punishment eventually agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency, making him one of the Italian's most persistent public critics.
Asked to describe the experience of playing Sinner, however, Kyrgios delivered a glowing assessment and ultimately predicted that the Italian could finish his career among the greatest players in tennis history.
Kyrgios breaks down Sinner's game
Kyrgios began by highlighting Sinner's extraordinary ability from the back of the court and his capacity to turn defensive positions into attacking opportunities.
“One of the best ball strikers the game has ever seen. Absolute machine from the back of the court. Is able to turn defence to effence with any shot.”
The Australian then pointed to Sinner's serve, identifying it as an area where the Italian has made major progress since the early stages of his career.
“Only real wekness was his serve wasn’t able to generate a ton of free points,” the former Wimbledon runner-up added. “Now has improved that and is one of the best pin point servers we have. Hard to attack.”
Kyrgios also acknowledged that Sinner's volleying was not initially as natural as some of the game's best all-court players, but believes he has addressed that weakness through his transition game. “Volleys weren’s as natural as some of the other best players, but has worked on his transition game well and is comfortable moving forward as well. Moves well for someone who is surprisingly tall.”
Kyrgios complimenting Sinner. pic.twitter.com/BbjmPBZdN6
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 30, 2026
From relentless criticism to a GOAT prediction
The praise is striking given Kyrgios' history with Sinner. The Italian tested positive for traces of clostebol in March 2024, but an independent tribunal found that he bore no fault or negligence after determining that the substance entered his system through contamination.
WADA later appealed before reaching a settlement with Sinner in February 2025. The Italian accepted a three-month suspension, while WADA stated that it accepted he had not intentionally cheated, had gained no performance advantage and that the violation resulted from negligence.
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Kyrgios continued to question the handling of the case and the punishment, repeatedly arguing that Sinner had received preferential treatment.
There was none of that criticism in his latest answer. Instead, Kyrgios finished by making an enormous prediction about where Sinner's career could eventually stand. “With more time will most likely go down as one of the goats.”
After years of publicly challenging Sinner over the doping controversy, Kyrgios has now offered perhaps his strongest recognition yet of the Italian's ability on court. The disagreement over the case remains separate from his assessment of Sinner as a tennis player, and on that subject, his message was unequivocal.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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