Nick Kyrgios blows up after Borna Coric becomes second positive COVID-19 test from Adria Tour exhibition

An exhibition tournament has now had two top ranked tennis players test positive for COVID-19 and Nick Kyrgios hasn’t held back.

Nick Kyrgios wasn’t happy with the return of the game amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios has taken aim at the Adria Tour exhibition tournament, which has now seen two tennis stars test positive for COVID-19.

Bulgarian World No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov said he tested positive on Sunday, pulling out of the charity event for World No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s charity, after losing to Borna Coric.

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Coric, the World’s No. 33 ranked player, revealed that he had also tested positive.

“Hi everyone, I wanted to inform you all that I tested positive for COVID-19. I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during the last few days gets tested! I am really sorry for any harm I might have caused! I’m feeling well and don’t have any symptoms. Please stay safe and healthy! Lots of love to all!”

pic.twitter.com/4ztqLYvjE4

— borna coric (@borna_coric) June 22, 2020

Coric had played Djokovic on Saturday night and attended community events with him.

But Kyrgios, who has been against the ATP Tour’s bid to get the US Open under way later this season despite New York being at the centre of the US’ pandemic crisis, where more than 2.3 million have contracted the virus and 122,00 have died.

He called the decision to go ahead with the Grand Slam as “selfish” while countryman John Millman called it “a little crazy” that the tournament was being considered.

Meanwhile, World No. 2 women’s player Simona Halep said she doesn’t currently want to play in the tournament, while World No. 1 Ash Barty has yet to make a decision.

While Croatia have had over 2300 cases and 107 deaths, Kyrgios took to Twitter to blast the decision to go ahead with the event.

Earlier today he asked if Dominic Thiem, Djokovic and Alexander Zverev were also going to be tested but after Coric’s admission he took aim at the decision to go ahead with the tournament.

🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’ speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE. https://t.co/SUdxfijkbK

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 22, 2020

The final of the event, which would have featured world No. 1 Djokovic and Russian Andrey Rublev, was cancelled as a result.

Bulgarian Dimitrov earlier revealed his positive test.

“I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for COVID-19,” the former world No. 3 wrote on Instagram. “I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions.

“I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering. Thanks for your support and please stay safe and healthy.”

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Croatia's Borna Coric during their match.

The tennis world was quick to react to the positive tests.

Stellar leadership 😂 #ifyouknowyouknow

— Mitchell Krueger (@mitch_krueger) June 21, 2020

Apparently there’s a pandemic ........

— andyroddick (@andyroddick) June 21, 2020

While watching images from the Adria Tour, I kind of felt that something was really wrong... Am I the only one ? Is it a consequence of it ?
Get better soon Grigor 🙏 https://t.co/GKfouQ5hwF

— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) June 21, 2020

Hoping Grigor will get through this without a hiccup but just questions the “risks” I brought up last week and qualms I had about the whole tour itself pic.twitter.com/nsa7r5qZDO

— Noah Rubin (@Noahrubin33) June 21, 2020

The second leg of the Adria Tour, a Balkan charity event organised by Djokovic while international tennis remains suspended, was scheduled to take place in Zadar, Croatia before being cancelled after Dimitrov’s positive test.

Dimitrov and Djokovic as well as the other players were then seen partying the night away at a packed Belgrade night spot.

The event had already suffered an embarrassing setback last week when the planned Montenegro leg of the four-nation tour was cancelled over coronavirus protocol rules.

Montenegro was due to be the third stop on June 27 and 28 after Croatia and before the conclusion in Bosnia.

— with Reuters