Why Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic are making a huge mistake by not going to Rio

A FORMER Olympian and three-time French Open winner has warned Nick Kyrgios of exactly what he will be missing if he doesn’t go to Rio.

Gustavo Kuerten: “It’s a fascinating way of learning.”

BRAZILIAN tennis great Gustavo Kuerten believes Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and any other players who have chosen to miss the Rio Olympics are making a mistake.

Kyrgios became the fifth member of the top 25 to announce he would not be making the trip to Brazil in August.

Kyrgios and fellow Australian Tomic have been engaged in a spat with the Australian Olympic Committee while French Open semi-finalist Dominic Thiem, John Isner and Feliciano Lopez have opted to play ATP Tour events instead.

World No.20 Kevin Anderson, meanwhile, is ineligible because he does not play Davis Cup for South Africa.

Kuerten, a former world No.1 and three-time French Open champion, said he would tell players to “go and spend a weekend in Brazil. They’d change their mind”.

Nick Kyrgios would be missing out on the experience of a lifetime.

The 39-year-old, who competed twice at the Olympics, said: “In life it’s also about experience and sometimes you need to take decisions to understand this.

“My experience of the Olympics was great. As a Brazilian, we all dream of the Olympics. We wanted to be part of it. If a player feels he has a real chance of getting a medal, he will play. “Sometimes it’s intimidating and then you prefer to put yourself in other positions, but it’s very worthwhile. You can relate to lots of other athletes from different countries. You go in the gym and guys are lifting 300 kilos. It’s a fascinating way of learning.”

What Kuerten does completely understand is those players who are concerned by the Zika virus.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have both said they will seek medical advice before committing to travelling, although they are planning to play as things stand.

Kuerten, who has been appointed as a global ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame, said: “I think it’s a serious thing. As a Brazilian, we suffer about this a lot, we live these problems daily.

“The whole country lives with this lack of assistance from our government over the past many years. It’s frustrating and it’s sad but you can’t stop because of this.

“We have to keep going but we have to take this very seriously and try to do as best as possible to minimise the risk. It’s not only Zika, we have many tough things, but many nice things as well.

“What is frustrating is when they decide the Olympics or the World Cup will be in Brazil and then don’t assume the risks. They know the risks. We have to do it together and minimise the risks.”

Originally published as Why Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic are making a huge mistake by not going to Rio