Nick Kyrgios joined former Davis Cup player Sam Groth in criticizing Novak Djokovic after the world’s No. 1 reportedly wrote to the organizers of the Australian Open asking them to relax quarantine restrictions on players.
Passengers arriving on three charter flights have been hard quarantined, including more than 70 players unable to train outside their rooms for 14 days before the first Grand Slam of the year kicks off on February 8.
A Spanish tennis website reported that Djokovic wrote to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley with a list of “requirements” asking for shorter isolation periods and for players to move to “private homes with tennis courts”.
Djokovic’s management team did not immediately respond to the request for comment.
Kyrgios criticized Djokovic again and again in 2020 for organizing the Adria Tour exhibition event in the Balkans, where multiple players, including the top ranked Serbian, contracted the virus.
“Djokovic is a resource,” Kyrgios, who is ranked 47th in the world, said on Twitter.
Djokovic, who chose to rent a private house rather than stay in a hotel during the US Open 2020, is among the top players to serve their mandatory Adelaide quarantine before traveling to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the year .
Many Australians have questioned the decision to host the tournament with organizers flying in 1,200 players and their entourages when thousands of citizens are stranded abroad as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Djokovic, who founded the breakaway Professional Tennis Players ‘Association last year after resigning as head of ATP’s players’ council, wanted to gain popularity, Australian Groth said.
“Does he mean that? It’s a selfish political move to gain popularity,” he wrote in his column in News Ltd.
Groth also pointed to the criticism Djokovic received for organizing the Adria Tour in June.
“To suggest that players should have a shorter quarantine is not only ludicrous, it is insulting to Australians who have had to endure it,” added Groth.
What did he think would happen? [Victoria’s Premier] Then Andrews would say, ‘Sure Novak, anything you want’? Save me. “
Bernard Tomic’s girlfriend, Vanessa Sierra, received anti-aircraft fire from Kyrgios after complaining that the food served in their quarantine hotel room was cold and grumbling that she should wash her own hair.
“This is the worst part of quarantine,” Sierra said on her YouTube channel. “I don’t wash my own hair. I’ve never washed my own hair. It’s just not something I do. Normally I have hairdressers who do it for me twice a week.
This is the situation we are dealing with. I can’t wait to get out of quarantine just to get my hair done. ‘
Kyrgios, 25, speaking out against tennis players who have violated COVID-19 protocols since the start of the pandemic, was not amused.
“I don’t mind Bernie, but his lady clearly has no perspective, ridiculous scenes,” Kyrgios tweeted.