“I’ll just tell you the truth...”: Stefanos Tsitsipas says he knew about Nick Kyrgios’ cocaine case before announcement

Tuesday, 01 September 2026 at 10:29

Stefanos Tsitsipas - Barcelona Open press conference.

Stefanos Tsitsipas knew about Nick Kyrgios’ doping case before the Australian’s provisional suspension was publicly announced, and he made that clear after producing one of the biggest upsets of the opening round at the US Open. Asked about Kyrgios’ positive test for a cocaine metabolite, Tsitsipas said he had already heard about the situation away from the court before it became public.

Kyrgios was provisionally suspended on August after a sample collected at the Mallorca Open on June 22 returned a positive test for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. The ITIA confirmed the case on August 19, with Kyrgios later acknowledging the result and describing it as a “huge mistake.” Tsitsipas’ comments added another layer to a controversy that had already followed Kyrgios into New York.

The Greek had already delivered a statement of his own on court, overcoming No. 10 seed Arthur Fils in four sets in one of the first round’s most anticipated matches. Fils arrived just eight days after winning his maiden Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final, and entered the US Open as one of the players expected to make a deep run.

Tsitsipas instead overturned a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4 scoreline to claim his first win over Fils in six meetings. The victory moved the former world No. 3 back into the live top 50 after he arrived in New York ranked No. 53, while also giving him his best win by ranking since beating Alexander Bublik in Madrid in April.

Tsitsipas says Kyrgios’ case was no surprise

Tsitsipas was asked directly about Kyrgios after his victory and initially appeared reluctant to engage with the subject. He then made clear that the news had reached him before the official announcement, saying he had already been aware of what was happening away from the courts.

“I don't know what to tell you. I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement," Tsitsipas said in press conference. "I knew about it. So what can I tell you? I'll just tell you the truth. I knew about all of this before any announcement was made. When I saw it on social media, I was like, here we go. I kind of expected it, to be honest.”

tsitsipas’ reaction to kyrgios being suspended is sending me LMFAOOO pic.twitter.com/w0GV0hw4vk
— 🏎️ (@parisianarchive) August 31, 2026

The Greek then went further, saying the information was not based solely on what appeared publicly. He claimed he had heard about the behavior from people around the tour and made clear that he was unwilling to disguise what he believed he already knew. His comments were among the strongest made by a current player since the ITIA announced Kyrgios' provisional suspension.

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“I knew that those were things that were happening away from the tennis courts. I will tell you that. I'm not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for. I will consider myself a nice person with everyone.

But these were behaviors that I personally heard on the tour and heard other people in that same environment saying those sort of things to me. So again, when I saw it, I was like, well, pretty much expected, to be honest.”

Tsitsipas' only expression of surprise concerned the timing rather than the substance of the announcement. Kyrgios' provisional suspension remains separate from any final disciplinary outcome, with the Australian entitled to appeal the decision. “I am surprised it came so late, though,” Tsitsipas added.

Tsitsipas turns the night into a statement

The Kyrgios comments came after Tsitsipas had already delivered the performance he desperately needed. Fils was the stronger player early, taking the first set and moving within sight of a two-set lead at 5-2 in the second.

Stefanos Tsitsipas represents Greece at the Davis Cup

Tsitsipas refused to chase the match emotionally, instead recovering the break before taking the tiebreak and then controlling the third set. The turnaround produced his best hard-court win by ranking in months.

“It was a very psychologically demanding match. I knew that from the start,” the former world No. 3 said. “He came from a good run in Cincinnati, so I knew I was dealing with a good and in-shape Arthur Fils. My goal from the beginning of the match was to try and stay as much and as long as possible on the tennis court, so mentally I was ready for a big battle.”

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The result carries particular weight for Tsitsipas because confidence had become an increasingly difficult commodity during his recent decline. He dropped as low as No. 88 in June before winning Gstaad and briefly returning to the top 50. The victory over Fils now gives him another major ranking boost, while a second-round win over qualifier Lloyd Harris could push him further upward.

“It's very easy to not feel confident, especially when you haven't beaten top players in a long time. That's why I'm very ecstatic about today," the 2-time Grand Slam runner-up said. "It's an important good victory for me, for my confidence. It's one of those moments that you are able to look back into and be like, you know, I still got the game that I'm looking for and I still got the shots and the quality is still there.”

There was also a more personal reason for Tsitsipas to value the victory. He arrived at the US Open having failed to advance beyond the second round in his previous nine Grand Slam appearances, despite reaching six major semifinals and two finals in his career.

“It's very important to withstand difficult matches like that and then see the result that you so hard worked for during a match like that, allowing yourself to just be completely free out on the court and play without any expectations. I'm loving this feeling.”

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The next test is Lloyd Harris, but Tsitsipas has already changed the tone of his tournament. He arrived as an unseeded former No. 3 facing a player fresh from a Masters 1000 breakthrough and left Louis Armstrong Stadium with a top-10 scalp, a return to the live top 50 and one of his most significant hard-court wins of the season.

The Kyrgios comments will dominate the headlines, but the tennis finally gave Tsitsipas something equally valuable: evidence that his level is returning.

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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