Stefanos Tsitsipas has reopened an old war of words with Nick Kyrgios, saying he is not surprised the polarising Australian has been suspended from tennis for drugs.
"Pretty much expected, to be honest," Tsitsipas said after advancing to the US Open second round in New York with an upset win over 10th seed Arthur Fils.
"I am surprised it came so late, though."
Kyrgios was banned earlier this month after revealing he tested positive for cocaine in June while in Spain for an event.
The former Wimbledon finalist could be suspended for four years, though a lighter punishment is expected.
"I mean, to be entirely honest with you, I knew about this before the announcement. Myself, I knew about it," Tsitsipas said.
"So what can I tell you? I will just tell you the truth. I knew about all of this before any announcement was made and when I saw it on social media, I was, like, 'Here we go.' I kind of expected it, to be honest."
The two tennis hot-heads have history, most notably Tsitsipas branding Kyrgios a bully following their tempestuous third-round encounter at Wimbledon four years ago.
Tsitsipas was fined US$10,000 ($A14,000) for hitting a ball into the crowd and almost hitting a spectator and admitted he deliberately took aim at Kyrgios on some points in response to the Canberran's controversial antics.
"It's constant bullying. That's what he does," the Greek said at the time.
"He bullies the opponents. He was probably a bully at school himself. I don't like bullies. I don't like people that put other people down.
"He has some good traits in his character, as well. But he also has a very evil side to him, which if it's exposed, it can really do a lot of harm and bad to the people around him."
Kyrgios, who brushed off Tsitsipas's claims as "soft", is virtually retired, having admitted he had likely played his last competitive singles match following multiple wrist and knee surgeries since his career-best season in 2022.
Australian Associated Press
