“Spicy and unpredictable”: Laura Robson breaks down potential Kyrgios-Sinner clash at the Australian Open

Tuesday, 17 December 2024 at 17:12

Sinner and Kyrgios shake hands at the net in Miami after their match

Former silver medallist Laura Robson weighed in on a potential matchup between Nick Kyrgios and Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. Robson is optimistic about the prospect of this encounter after the Australian expressed his desire to face the World No. 1 in Melbourne.

Recently, Kyrgios appeared on the Nothing Major podcast, where he reiterated his criticism of Sinner over the doping controversy and shared his anticipation of meeting him on court. "If I played him in the Australian Open, I’d get every person in the crowd to get on him. I would turn into an absolute riot. All respect would go out the window and I would just do anything to win."

Robson dissects a potential Kyrgios-Sinner showdown

The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up is set to return to the tour in less than two weeks at the Brisbane International, where he will share the draw with players like Novak Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, and Holger Rune. Kyrgios will also feature in the doubles draw, forming a new and unprecedented partnership with Novak Djokovic.

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Once his participation in Brisbane concludes, Kyrgios will head to Melbourne, where he will compete in singles using his protected ranking. He will also appear in doubles alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, with whom he won the Australian Open title in 2022.

Robson, who has previously worked with Kyrgios during TV broadcasts, reflected on his comments from Nothing Major. She suggested that the matchup would be a fascinating challenge for both players but hopes Kyrgios’s desire to involve the crowd doesn’t go too far. "I don't think you ever want a situation where all respect goes out the window," Robson told Eurosport. "If we can avoid that, that would be great.

"It would be super interesting if they played each other, especially in the early rounds, because Nick, he's an unpredictable player anyway. But if you played him first round, you just know that you're going to get no rhythm and you'll be walking side to side on his service games quite a lot as he aces you.

Nick Kyrgios played just one match in the last two seasons.

"I think it would have to be close enough for the crowd to get that involved, wouldn't it? It would have to get to a tight scoreline and something that they can grab onto,” she added. “I want to say he's got that challenge on his hands first to keep it really close, and then we'll see. Because we know that Sinner is going to be sharp in that situation, too."

Kyrgios has been controversial with his criticism of both Sinner and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek following their doping cases. Swiatek’s recent suspension indirectly brought Sinner’s case back into the conversation, an opportunity Kyrgios seized to reiterate his sharp criticism.

"I mean, it's not a shock that Nick is opinionated, and he's entitled to his feelings," Robson continued. "They're not my personal feelings.

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"And I would say Sinner's dealt with the case almost as best as he could, the way he's been able to compartmentalise everything. He's done everything by the book, from what I understand, and reading the long, long document from the tribunal. He did everything according to what was asked of him.

"At that point, I think you've just got to leave it to the authorities, basically, haven't you? They've deemed him able to play. They've deemed him no negligence. At that point, in my mind, what's done is done,” she added. "Obviously, there's still some lingering concerns because the case has escalated again and it's ongoing for 2025.

"But Nick has his opinion and it will certainly make things more interesting, maybe more spicy if they were to play each other,” the former World No. 26 stated. “But I think when on the court, it's a different situation. I imagine that a lot of that talk will go out the window if they ended up playing each other."

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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