Former rival says Nick Kyrgios's drug ban 'pretty much expected'

Stefanos Tsitsipas says he knew about Nick Kyrgios's drug use before news of the Australian's suspension broke.

Tsitsipas, after beating 10th seed Arthur Fils in the US Open first round, said he was surprised Kyrgios was not suspended earlier.

Kyrgios could be banned for as long as four years, though a lighter punishment is expected.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says he was not surprised when Nick Kyrgios was suspended from tennis for drug use.

Kyrgios was banned earlier this month after he revealed he tested positive for cocaine in June when he was in Spain to play at an event.

The Australian could be suspended for four years, though a lighter punishment is expected.

Tsitsipas was asked about Kyrgios on Monday after upsetting 10th-seeded Arthur Fils in the first round of the US Open.

The former world number three, who had a famously contentious relationship with Kyrgios , said he was surprised the suspension did not come sooner.

"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."

Tsitsipas and Kyrgios played a fiery match at Wimbledon in 2022 , when Kyrgios reached his only Grand Slam final. Tsitsipas blasted a couple of shots directly at Kyrgios, intentionally hit a ball into the crowd, and afterward called Kyrgios a "bully".

Kyrgios has largely battled injuries since and said when he was suspended that he had felt "helpless and alone", though added that "none of that excuses what I did".

"I knew that those were things that were happening away from the tennis courts. I will tell you that," he said.

"I'm not going to try and cover up someone that I know the truth for. I'll consider myself a nice person with everyone, but these were behaviours that I personally heard on the tour and heard other people in that same environment saying those sort of things to me.