Mark Petchey defends Jannik Sinner, tells Nick Kyrgios to 'give it a rest'

Former Andy Murray coach, Mark Petchey, criticised Nick Kyrgios for his harsh comments about Jannik Sinner, saying he "needs to give it a rest." The Australian player has frequently taken to social media to voice strong opinions about the World No. 1 following his doping case.

Recently, it was revealed that 5-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek also tested positive for doping inadvertently. Like Sinner, she avoided a lengthy suspension, agreeing instead to a one-month ban, which she is serving during the off-season.

With another high-profile doping case making headlines, Sinner's case has regained attention. Kyrgios has continued his criticism of the resolution. Speaking to Betway, Petchey urged Kyrgios to stop targeting Sinner and let the official process take its course.

"Yes, Nick Kyrgios needs to give it a rest. Sinner has been found not guilty, right? And we're about to get the WADA appeal. Let's just wait for that. You have to let the process go through due care and attention. This is a massive thing. It is somebody’s career."

“Nick can do great anywhere, maybe not so much on clay. Nick is one of the best tennis players in the world. The question is whether he can do it week in, week out. And that's a real skill and it's a real testament to those players that can do it,” he added. “Nick is awesome for the game. When he is involved the crowds love him, the younger generations go with him. There is nobody who brings the eyeballs to tennis that Nick does at times. Nick being fit and healthy and putting his style of tennis on the court is great for tennis.”

“I don’t agree with what he said about the personalities of the current crop of players. I think Alcaraz is arguably one of the greatest tennis players already. Are you going to say that one of the greatest tennis players that lights up a tennis court in a way that very few tennis players have had over the years is suddenly dull?

“I'll always go back to the Fire and Ice era of Borg and McEnroe. If Bjorn had played Bjorn nobody would be talking about that era in terms of how exciting it was.”

“It was Mac who brought the passion, Jimmy Connors the bad boy. Borg the ice. You need great rivalries and different personalities. It is Fire and Ice 2.0 for me with Jannik and Carlos,” Mark Petchey added.

“We might not have the trash talk of the 80s but tennis actually is an unbelievably healthy space. You want to see people who are trying to win big competitions that are being ultra professional in doing that. Otherwise, what are we celebrating? People that are mediocre.”