Stefanos Tsitsipas claims Nick Kyrgios' positive cocaine test was 'kind of expected'

[p]"[b]I kind of expected it, to be honest[/b]," the world number 53 from Greece said at the US Open after defeating French 10th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arthur-fils/IoIhUqIN/"]Arthur Fils[/a] in four sets in the opening round.[/p][p]The former Wimbledon finalist [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kyrgios-nick/fudxgwDF/"]Kyrgios[/a] has been provisionally suspended and last month admitted to making "a huge mistake" after failing a test for cocaine.[/p][p]The 31-year-old Australian, who has hardly played singles tennis in recent years, apologised and said injuries had taken "a huge toll on me both physically and mentally".[/p][p]After defeating Fils [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/arthur-f-IoIhUqIN/tsitsipas-s-hb6oWfc6/?mid=bHUwtvMr"]4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4[/a] in New York, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsitsipas-stefanos/hb6oWfc6/"]Tsitsipas[/a] - who briefly played doubles with Kyrgios but has had a turbulent relationship with him - was asked about the positive drugs test.[/p][p]"[b]I'm not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for,[/b]" the 28-year-old replied.[/p][p]"[b]I'll 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.[/b][/p][p]"[b]Again, when I saw it, I was, like: Well, pretty much expected, to be honest. I am surprised it came so late, though.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="a9bdfd71-e74a-4360-a404-455db109a45c" url="https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/2094555685422018915?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Boasting a big serve and booming ground strokes, Kyrgios has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and rose to a high of 13 in the world in 2016.[/p][p]His finest performance was on the grass at Wimbledon in 2022, when he reached the championship match, losing in four sets to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a].[/p][p]Despite his natural talents that is as good as it got, with a series of injuries taking their toll.[/p][p]In January he admitted he would never be the player that he once was.[/p]