Nick Kyrgios sparks outrage after targeting Lleyton Hewitt’s son in ugly attack: ‘This is harassment’

Nick Kyrgios has criticized Cruz Hewitt for posting a photo of himself with Jannik Sinner after training with the world number 1 ahead of the Australian Open.

Hewitt, the talented son of Australian tennis great Lleyton, was given the opportunity to train with Sinner at Melbourne Park for the first Grand Slam of 2025.

Kyrgios, who has been an outspoken critic of Sinner, was not happy when he saw the 16-year-old with the Italian.

The controversial Australian has called Sinner’s breach of the sport’s anti-doping program ‘disgusting’ and has gone out of his way to take shots at the Italian at every opportunity.

Sinner tested positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March, but avoided a ban because the ITIA ruled he was not to blame.

Kyrgios has made numerous posts on social media to challenge the decision – and was furious on Monday after seeing Hewitt laughing with Sinner.

Hewitt, the son of Australian tennis great Lleyton, was given the chance to train with Sinner at Melbourne Park on Saturday – and Kyrgios was not impressed

Kyrgios commented under Cruz’s post, “I love ya Cruz but this is wild,” and later added, “Cooked post” with a needle emoji.

The Aussie Firebrand also wrote: “Thought we were boys” with several broken heart emojis.

Sinner later shared Cruz’s photo, posting, “Thanks for joining us, good hit!”

Kyrgios has been criticized for the comments, with tennis fans saying he crossed the line.

Prominent tennis journalist Bastien Fachan posted on X: ’16-year-old Cruz Hewitt posts a photo of him training with Jannik Sinner at Rod Laver Arena…

“29-year-old Nick Kyrgios immediately spams it with disparaging comments and needle emojis. This has gone way over the line, and it is time for the tennis world to highlight its campaign of intimidation.”

Another tennis fan wrote: ‘Nick Kyrgios will harass a 16 year old kid online, but the tennis authorities will still promote him as if he was once a top 10 player. Then we have to hear him cry about the establishment, when he has been its greatest beneficiary.’

A third posted: ‘A 30 year old harassing a 16 year old on social media, really? Embarrassing.’

Kyrgios casts doubt on the innocence of world number 1 Jannik Sinner, who continues to face the threat of a possible ban after testing positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March

Another commented: ‘It’s beyond embarrassing. This is harassment right now!’

The sport’s bad boy cast doubt on Sinner’s innocence with another scathing attack in December.

“Two world number 1s both being fined for doping is disgusting for our sport,” Kyrgios said. ‘It’s a horrible sight.

“Tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it, but no one wants to talk about it, it’s terrible.”

Sinner, who failed two drugs tests, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which accepted his explanation of accidental contamination.

Iga Swiatek was handed only a one-month ban after testing positive for a banned heart drug in August, a decision branded as ‘illogical’ by Simone Halep, who has just returned after an 18-month absence following two anti-doping breaches.

While the Pole has accepted her sentence and served her ban, the case against Sinner continues after WADA, the global anti-doping authority, appealed ITIA’s decision.

Sinner had successfully argued that his physiotherapist had accidentally infected him while treating a cut, but Kyrgios clearly has his doubts.

“I’m paying my team hundreds and thousands of dollars to make sure this doesn’t happen,” he said. “So they knew it was happening. Why did they wait five to six months to do something about it? He kept his team for five months, that doesn’t make sense.

“If he didn’t do anything wrong, why did they take away his prize money and points (at Indian Wells)? Apparently they found something wrong with this. It is clear that WADA has therefore appealed.’