Sinner quizzed on awkward Kyrgios scenario

Jannik Sinner is unbothered by potentially being interviewed on court at the US Open by Nick Kyrgios.
Sinner downed Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in 1 hour, 39 minutes to advance to the third round.
He dropped the first set in his opening match in New York but didn’t encounter much trouble facing his second straight American on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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The Italian earned his 50th victory of the season, including his ATP Tour-leading 30th on hard courts.
Sinner beat Michelsen for the second time this month, having also won a second-round match in Cincinnati shortly before it was revealed that he tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March.
Speaking to reporters after the match the Italian seemed unfazed by the prospect of coming face to face with the Australian, who is working with ESPN at Flushing Meadows and conducting on-court interviews after matches.
Kyrgios is one of the players who has been outspoken on Sinner’s failed anti-doping tests and called for the Italian to be banned for two years.
But Sinner shut down talk that things may become awkward if he’s forced to engage with Kyrgios.
“I don’t want to respond on what he said. Everyone is free to say everything, so it’s OK,” Sinner said.
“If that is the case, let’s see. It’s going to be different, for sure, but I don’t know.
“I don’t know what to say. Maybe if I say something now, and then the reaction is going to be something else because you live in this moment.
“But I’m always quite relaxed. I’m someone who forgets quite fast something.
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“As I said, everyone is quite free to say everything, so it is what it is.”
Kyrgios took a swipe at Sinner after the news broke, posting: “Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned.
“You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance … you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice”
Sinner next meets Australian Chris O’Connell, who beat Italian Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in his second-round match.
Kyrgios and Sinner during the Miami Open in 2022. Getty
Kyrgios is working with American broadcaster ESPN while he recovers from injury and has been conducting on-court interviews after matches.
Another Italian, Jasmine Paolini, played just three points before advancing when Karolina Pliskova appeared to injure her left foot.
The No.5-seeded Paolini, who reached the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in her breakout season, advanced past the second round of the US Open for the first time.
“Finally, we made third round!” she said with a laugh during an interview on the court.
Paolini will next play No.30 seed Yulia Putintseva.
No.4 seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, withdrew from the tournament with an undisclosed injury before her second-round match, sending French qualifier Jessika Ponchet to the weekend.
“Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from my match today due to my injuries,” Rybakina said in a statement.
“I did not want to finish the last grand slam of the year this way but I have to listen to my body, and I hope I can close out the remainder of the year strong.”
Men’s No.7 seed Hurbert Hurkacz was eliminated in straight sets by Jordan Thompson, and No.16 Sebastian Korda was knocked out by Tomas Machac.