James Wilson 
Mats Wilander has expressed curiosity about how Jannik Sinner would handle a potential matchup against Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open, especially if Kyrgios were to sway the crowd against the world No. 1. Recently, Kyrgios shared on the “Nothing Major” podcast that he hopes to face the defending champion in Melbourne, aiming to create a challenging atmosphere for the 23-year-old.
Kyrgios has been vocal about Sinner’s doping case in recent months, so his comments about their potential clash were not unexpected. In response, Wilander, a former seven-time Grand Slam champion, stated that he believes Sinner is “innocent” and that his explanations regarding the doping allegations are credible. Nonetheless, Wilander acknowledged that Kyrgios appeared serious about the prospect of their match at Melbourne Park.
“It would be interesting to see if Jannik Sinner could maintain his composure if he faced someone like Nick Kyrgios at the old Vodafone, John Cain Arena,” Wilander told Eurosport. He noted that the crowd dynamics could change dramatically, as the Australian Open allows ground pass holders to enter, potentially shifting the average age of the audience from 60 to as young as 16 or 20, with some fans possibly having consumed too much alcohol. “That atmosphere would be intriguing to see if Jannik could keep his cool if Nick really gets on top of him,” he added.
The two players were slated to meet during the 2022 Sunshine Double in Indian Wells, but Sinner had to withdraw due to illness. They eventually faced off about ten days later in Miami, where Sinner triumphed with a score of 7-6 (3), 6-3.
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