Nick Kyrgios reacts throughout his match towards Mackenzie McDonald on the Miami Open tennis match. File
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios stated on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) he had made “an enormous mistake” after he was provisionally suspended for testing optimistic for cocaine.
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The 31-year-old, who reached the ultimate at Wimbledon in 2022, failed a doping check throughout an ATP occasion in Mallorca on June 22.
“On 17 July 2026, a World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine,” the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) stated.
Mr. Kyrgios, whose undoubted expertise has been overshadowed by a suspect temperament and accidents, wrote on Instagram that he took “full accountability”.
“I made an enormous mistake,” he wrote.
“I’m sorry to my followers, my household, my sponsors and everybody near me. Above all, I’m sorry to the youngsters who comply with me. I do know the instance this units and I’m deeply dissatisfied in myself.” Mr. Kyrgios stated.
Boasting a giant serve and booming floor strokes, Nick Kyrgios has received seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and rose to a excessive of 13 on the planet in 2016.
His best efficiency was on the grass at Wimbledon in 2022, when he reached the championship match, dropping in 4 units to Novak Djokovic.
Regardless of his pure abilities that’s pretty much as good because it bought, with a collection of accidents taking their toll.
He’s now ranked 919 and has barely performed in singles tennis in recent times.
In January, he admitted he would by no means be the participant that he as soon as was.
Kyrgios is likely one of the few gamers to have recorded tour-level wins over the “Huge 4” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
However the success on court docket got here with enormous issues off it, together with extreme accidents to his proper elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone.
He has had quite a few surgical procedures, essentially the most critical a whole reconstruction of his proper wrist in 2024.
On Wednesday (August 19), he stated that the accidents had taken “an enormous toll on me each bodily and mentally”.
“None of that excuses what I did,” he stated of his failed check. “Nevertheless the excellent news is that this has given me a wake-up name. I’m sorry, I’ll do the work and are available again higher.”
The ITIA stated that the suspension had been in place since August 4.
It stated “Whereas suspended Kyrgios isn’t allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any occasions organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any nationwide affiliation.”
Printed – August 19, 2026 03:43 pm IST
