Tennis news: Nick Kyrgios slams Novak Djokovic’s new coronavirus claims

Novak Djokovic won’t concede he made mistakes by hosting a tennis tournament during a pandemic, and Nick Kyrgios can’t believe it.

Nick Kyrgios has long been urging to show more respect for the global pandemic.

Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios has again hit out at Novak Djokovic after the world No. 1 refused to admit any wrongdoing over his diabolical Adria Tour.

As the Serbian gears up for the US Open beginning later this month, he reflected on his exhibition tournament that was eventually cancelled after multiple players and coaches contracted COVID-19.

The event did not adhere to any social distancing guidelines as stars routinely mingled with each other, fans and sponsors. Djokovic and his wife, along with fellow pros like Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric, were among those to become infected.

However, speaking to the New York Times, Djokovic said he would still go ahead with the Adria Tour if given his time over, arguing his positive intentions outweigh the negative health outcomes.

“We tried to do something with the right intentions,” Djokovic said. “Yes, there were some steps that could have been done differently, of course, but am I going to be then forever blamed for doing a mistake?

“I mean, OK, if this is the way, fine, I’ll accept it, because that’s the only thing I can do.

“Whether it’s fair or not, you tell me, but I know that the intentions were right and correct, and if I had the chance to do the Adria Tour again, I would do it again.”

Djokovic and Co. were widely criticised for partying shirtless in nightclubs — which is the 17-time grand slam champion’s only regret. But still he was keen not to accept the blame, instead shifting the responsibility onto Adria Tour sponsors.

“I agree things could have been done differently with the nightclub,” Djokovic said. “The sponsors organised. They invited players. We felt comfortable. We had a successful event. Everybody was really happy and joyful.”

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The world’s gone mad when Nick Kyrgios is the voice of reason.

Djokovic is sticking to his guns.

Kyrgios has been a vocal critic of tennis players flouting the rules during the global pandemic, and won’t play at the US Open. He slammed those taking part in the Adria Tour and labelled world No. 7 Alexander Zverev “selfish” when the German was caught partying after saying he would take precautions to protect against COVID-19.

Replying to Djokovic’s new claims in his Instagram story, Kyrgios wrote: “Scary that people take zero ownership. Group of albatrosses.”

He capped off his post with a face-palm emoji.

Tennis writer Ben Rothenberg also took aim at Djokovic’s latest comments, tweeting: “Novak Djokovic, like so many top athletes, has thrived because he’s been able to block out meaningful self-doubt and always believe in himself, his abilities. These qualities do not necessarily make a good citizen during a pandemic, even after many clear opportunities to learn.”

American writer Benjamin Hart wrote on Twitter: “I really wish there were fans at this year’s US Open, primarily so that they could boo Novak Djokovic for saying this. I actually thought he often got an unfairly bad rap before this year. Now I’m fully on the hate train.”