Quote of the Day: Jannik Sinner is down for Nick Kyrgios interview at the US Open

An interview with Nick Kyrgios at the US Open? Jannik Sinner says he won't rule out the idea, despite the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up slamming the perceived lack of transparency surrounding his controversial steroids case.

On the eve of the year’s last Grand Slam, Sinner stunned the sports world with the news that he had failed two drug tests for a banned substance in March. He then raised even more eyebrows when it was revealed that he would not be suspended after being allowed to successfully argue his case in private.

Currently in town with ESPN as a pundit and an on-court interviewer with his peers on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Kyrgios was one of Sinner's loudest critics on social media. The 29-year-old Aussie has dipped his toes into broadcast space recently while rehabbing from a wrist injury with stints on Tennis Channel and Eurosport, and he didn’t pull punches when discussing the Italian's case.

Read More: “I’m just a simple tennis player”: At US Open, Jannik Sinner insists fair treatment in anti-doping saga

“It seems like every time one of these things comes up, there’s always a different process for different players,” Kyrgios said in an interview with ESPN. “It’s nothing against Sinner personally at all. I know how important he is. He’s one of the greatest tennis players we have right now… Nothing against him personally.

“If you look at Jenson Brooksby and other players who’ve had their careers taken away for up to a year… someone like Sinner just doing it his own way. I think he had it on his own terms for most of the time. I don’t think that’s fair and equal for the rest of the tour.”

WATCH: Breaking: Jannik Sinner tests positive for banned substance, but won't be suspended | TC Live

Even after Sinner fielded questions from journalists at the US Open and insisted that all rules were properly followed, he couldn’t escape the fallout as tennis fans and his own peers weighed in—something that been an eye-opening experience for the usually understated Italian.

“It helps me to see who my friends are and who are not my friends,” Sinner told press on Thursday. “This is all part of a growing experience, no? I wish nobody has this experience to grow, because this is a ‘different’ way of experience. But you also realize that there is also a life outside of tennis, which (is) much more important than what we do because our daily routine is to hit tennis balls and go in the gym...

“Tennis is big for me because it showed me what I am as a person and how important the sport is. But in the other way, there is a life outside of tennis, which is even more important.”

One player who will likely fall under Sinner’s ‘not my friends’ category is Kyrgios—who claimed he’s “not going to be as hospitable” with the Italian the next time they meet in the locker room.

Q. Nick Kyrgios has been doing some on-court interviews this week. He's had some inflammatory things to say about you on social media. How would you feel being interviewed by him on Arthur Ashe Stadium?

JANNIK SINNER: If that would (happen)… I don't know? (laughing)

I don't want to respond on what he said. Everyone is free to say everything, so it's okay.

If that is the case (that he interviews me), let's see. It's going to be different, for sure, but I don't know. (smiling)

I don't know what to say. Maybe I say something now, and then the reaction is going to be something else because you live in this moment.

Fiercely private about his personal life even before achieving international fame with his Australian Open victory and rise to the top of the ATP rankings, Sinner has been coping by staying away from social media altogether. Instead, he prefers to focus on spending time with his family and “close ones”, including girlfriend and WTA player Anna Kalinskaya, during the most tumultuous time in his career.

Read More: Jannik Sinner says the outcome of his steroids case was a relief but he fired two team members

“I try to don't look so much about this,” Sinner said of the social media scrutiny. “I know that there are some negative messages, but it's something you have to be careful (about), especially when you are younger because you care a lot about your reputation.

“At the end of the day… that's why you have (your) close ones, and then they know you as a person and as an athlete.”

Top seed Sinner will face Christopher O’Connell in the third round of the US Open on Saturday.  The Aussie toppled No. 26 seed Nicolas Jarry in the first round, and then defeated Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to advance.