Nick Kyrgios has launched a fresh attack on Jannik Sinner after the world No. 1 defeated Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday.

The Italian avoided a drugs ban earlier this year and was absolved of blame after the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol was found in his urine at the Indian Wells in March.

The defence argued that Sinner’s samples had been contaminated after he received a bare-handed massage from his physiotherapist, who had a cut on his finger which he had treated with an over-the-counter spray.

Sinner has been allowed to continue playing tennis after the International Tennis Integrity Agency asserted he “bore no fault or negligence” for two anti-doping violations.

But the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) have since lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decision to clear him.

On Sunday, Sinner clinched his seventh ATP Tour title of the year as he overcame Djokovic 7-6, 6-3 in China.

In the aftermath of the showpiece match, @TennisPuneet wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Every player beaten by Jannik Sinner must be thinking the same thing. This f***** shouldn’t even be on the court right now.”

And Kyrgios clearly agreed with the sentiment as he responded: “Yep. Ridiculous lol.”

Kyrgios has been vocal about Sinner’s drugs saga and exclaimed in a social media post in August: “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…”

After being told that the 23-year-old’s performances had not been enhanced, Kyrgios hit back by penning: “Then why did they take prize money and points from Indian Wells? So he did something wrong or he didn’t? Because they did say he failed two tests.”

After WADA appealed the decision not to ban Sinner to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Kyrgios then wrote on X: “Why’s he still playing.”

And after jokingly being asked during a Q&A on Instagram whether he would team up with Sinner for a doubles match, the Australian said: “I only play with CLEAN players.”

Sinner has been one of the standout players on the ATP Tour this year and tasted victory at the Australian Open in January, before lifting the trophy at the US Open in September.

And after avoiding a ban, he said in a statement: “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me.

“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”