"Do you just go for it and s*** in front of him?": Dominic Thiem levies hilarious query about doping to Kokkinakis and Shapovalov

In the latest episode of the UTS Talk Show, tennis stars Denis Shapovalov, Dominic Thiem and Thanasi Kokkinakis gave personal insights and shared funny anecdotes from their lives on and off the tennis court. The episode offered a humorous and honest look behind the scenes of professional sport.

One of the funniest stories came from Shapovalov, who recounted his first training session with Dominic Thiem: "I hit a slice shot, and because the court was slippery, it skidded straight into his balls. I thought, ‘I’ve just destroyed a top-five player!’"

Kokkinakis recalled a memorable doubles match in which he accidentally hit his opponent: "I crossed for a volley and hit Marcelo Melo on the elbow. The guy went down like he’d been sniped in Vietnam!"

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The challenges of doping tests

The players spoke at length about the bizarre and often unpleasant aspects of doping tests. From strict schedules to embarrassing moments, their stories offered an honest insight into the challenges athletes face.

Kokkinakis described the nerve-wracking early morning tests: "I wake up at 6:20 needing to pee, but my doping window starts at 7. Holding it in is absolute torture!"

Shapovalov added: "They sit there at the end of the bed watching you. I’m like, ‘I can’t help you, dude. This isn’t a performance; it’s biological!’"

But Dominic Thiem stole the show with a bizarre question: "Has it ever happened to you that you need to pee really badly for the doping guy, but you also have to take a s***? Like, do you just go for it and shit in front of him?"

Kokkinakis laughed out loud and replied: "Man, if you can pull that off, hats off to you. Honestly, they deserve it for signing up for this job!"

Kokkinakis also described the invasive methods used by some inspectors: "Some of these guys get eye-level with it. I’m like, ‘What are you even looking for? Are you trying to find something I don’t even know about?’"

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Kokkinakis described the unpleasant conditions even more clearly: "I once had to do a test in a trailer at a Challenger. The cubicle was so small, the guy was practically on top of me. I was like, ‘Dude, give me some space!’"

The players also expressed their frustration at the strict rules. Kokkinakis explained how easy it is to get penalized: "I’ve already got two strikes for minor mistakes. One was for forgetting to update my location when I was actually at a tournament where testers were present. It’s frustrating because I wasn’t trying to dodge anything!"

Thiem agreed and criticized the bureaucratic effort: "They expect you to update your whereabouts immediately after a loss. I’m like, ‘I just lost a five-setter; the last thing I want to do is log onto an app and update my location.’"

The players agreed that the system needs to be reformed to better support athletes' mental health. "The system is insane. It feels like they’re going out of their way to catch you slipping, even when you’re following the rules." Despite the challenges, the episode showed the camaraderie and humor these players share. Whether it's arduous doping tests or encounters with tennis legends, they always find a reason to laugh.

Fans can look forward to more behind-the-scenes stories as the UTS Talk Show continues to show tennis stars from their personal side:  Shapovalov, Thiem, Kokkinakis: All on the table, UTS Talk Show, Episode 8 Podcast from UTS Tour