Nick Kyrgios warns peers to behave amid tour’s continuing Covid concerns
Nick Kyrgios has joined the US Open exodus, delivering a brutal backhander to his peers in the process.
Nick Kyrgios has issued another backhander to tour rivals whose selfishness put the health of others at risk when announcing he will bypass the US Open later this month.
As coronavirus continues to wreak havoc with the sport, Kyrgios confirmed he would join world No 1 Ash Barty in staying away from the event to be held in New York.
The 25-year-old, who has endured some testing times at the US Open in recent years, said he would nonetheless miss playing the first major to be held since the shutdown in March.
“It hurts me at my core not to be out there competing in one of the sport’s greatest arenas, Arthur Ashe Stadium,” Kyrgios said.
“But I am sitting out for my people, for the Aussies, for the hundreds and thousands of Americans who have lost their lives, for all of you. It is my decision, like it or not, and those are my reasons.”
The tour resumed in Italy on Saturday with a WTA tournament, but a player was forced to withdraw 45 minutes before the event began after testing positive to the virus.
Organisers of the rescheduled Madrid Masters, which was to be held as a lead-in to the French Open, are now facing what appears an impossible task in regards to the tournament.
With coronavirus surging again in Spain, the nation’s government has advised the tournament it should not progress given the health concerns and uncertainty.
Tournament director Feliciano Lopez, who is still playing and ranked 56, said a decision would be made within three days in regards to whether next month’s event will progress.
Kyrgios has no doubts as to what the priorities should be during a time of crisis across the globe.
The dual-grand slam quarterfinalist has been heavily critical of peers including Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Borna Coric for their recent behaviour in exhibitions.
His assessment of the Adria Tour, which led to Djokovic and his wife Jelena, along with several other players, contracting the virus, was scathing.
He also engaged in an online tussle with Boris Becker over showing responsibility in regards to safeguarding the community.
Kyrgios said he felt for the thousands of people contracted to work at the US Open on casual contracts.
But he also warned tennis players they needed to act responsibly given what was at stake.
“Let’s take a breath here and remember what is important, which is the health and safety of the community,” he said.
“We can rebuild our sport and the economy, but we can never recover lives lost. I have no problem with the USTA putting on the US Open and if players want to go, that is up to them, so long as everyone acts appropriately and acts safely.
“No one wants people to keep their jobs more than me. I was speaking to a guy who works in the restaurant, the cleaners, the locker room attendants. These are the people that need their jobs back the most, and fair play to them.
“But to the tennis players, you have to act in the interests of each other and work together. You can’t be dancing on tables, money-grabbing your way around Europe or trying to make a quick buck hosting an exhibition.
“That is just so selfish. Think of the other people for once. That is what this virus is about. It doesn’t care about your world ranking, or how much money you have. Act responsibly. To those players who have been observing the rules and acting selflessly, I say good luck to you. Play your best and I have no problem with that.”
Dear Tennis,
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) August 1, 2020
I will not be playing this year at the US Open.
It hurts me at my core…But I’m sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives, for all of you. #SincerelyYours, @NickKyrgios pic.twitter.com/7EecHNU82l
Singles entries for the US Open will be finalised on Monday, with the doubles deadline on Tuesday.
Competitors will be tested on arriving in New York at their hotels, which are on Long Island, and cannot leave their rooms until confirmation of a negative.
They will be tested two days later and then at regular intervals throughout their stay, with masks to be worn on-site at Flushing Meadows unless practising or playing.
Here is some info around the 2020 US Open. pic.twitter.com/3lkSy8cwxb
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) August 1, 2020
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