Kyrgios criticises Djokovic over Australian Open quarantine row

Tennis star Novak Djokovic has been criticised by Australian player Nick Kyrgios, after the world number one lobbied authorities to relax quarantine rules for Australian Open players.

More than 1,200 players and staff flew into Australia last week for the Grand Slam which begins on 8 February.

But coronavirus cases on three flights has forced 72 players to isolate full-time in their hotel room for 14 days.

Highlighting some players’ frustration, Djokovic called for different rules.

But his suggestions — such as shorter quarantine periods — were rebuffed by Victoria state authorities who want to keep infections at very low levels.

Australian Open players hit out at Covid isolation

State Premier Daniel Andrews said the measures were necessary to protect the public and tennis stars would get “no special treatment”.

Following that, Kyrgios tweeted a news clip of the saga on Monday night and wrote: “Djokovic is a tool.”

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Kyrgios criticises Djokovic Australian Open

The outspoken Australian, ranked 47th in men’s singles, has previously criticised Djokovic over the coronavirus, after the Serb organised an exhibition event last year in which he and others contracted the virus.

“That’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. THIS IS NOT A JOKE,” Kyrgios wrote at the time.
‘No perspective’

Kyrgios criticises Australian Open quarantine row

Many connected to the Australian Open have expressed frustration over their forced isolation, mostly commonly for the disruption to player preparation.

Kyrgios also criticised the girlfriend of fellow Australian player Bernard Tomic, after she featured in the same news clip complaining about the hotel food and not having someone else to wash her hair.

“[She] obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes,” Kyrgios wrote in the same tweet.

His comments, largely, have been popularly received in Australia, where many have rubbished some players’ attitudes to virus restrictions.

Residents of Melbourne, home city of the Australian Open, endured one of the world’s longest lockdowns last year and had expressed concerns about the risk posed by the sporting event.

“Sure it’s not great to be cooped in a hotel room for that period of time but you know, I think they just have to get a grip,” said Labor MP Bill Shorten.

“Covid has been shocking. People have died. People lost their jobs… and you got these pampered sooks who are having a cry over their conditions.”

Event organisers say the majority of the about 500 players attending the Open have accepted the conditions, including those who are confined to their hotel rooms.

“I think the reports we’re seeing… doesn’t represent the entire playing group. For the most part, they have been really good,” said Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley on Tuesday.

He acknowledged it was “not an even playing field” for those stuck in their hotel rooms, given their competitors have access to five hours of court practice a day.

Mr Tiley also defended Djokovic, saying the star had written”a note — these weren’t demands — they were suggestions”.

“But he is understanding what two weeks of lockdown means,” he added.

While most players are being quarantined in Melbourne, Djokovic is part of a smaller group of big-name stars including Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka who are stationed in Adelaide for an exhibition match.

Nick Kyrgios joined former Davis Cup player Sam Groth in criticising Novak Djokovic after the Serbian world number one reportedly wrote to Australian Open organisers asking them to ease quarantine restrictions for players.

A Spanish tennis website reported that Djokovic wrote to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley with a list of “demands”, asking for reduced isolation periods and having players moved to “private houses with tennis courts”.

Djokovic’s management team did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Kyrgios criticised Djokovic repeatedly in 2020 for organising the Adria Tour exhibition event in the Balkans, where multiple players including the top-ranked Serbian contracted the virus.

“Djokovic is a tool,” Kyrgios, ranked 47th in the world, said on Twitter.

Djokovic, who opted to rent a private house instead of staying at a hotel during the 2020 US Open, is among top players who are serving their mandatory quarantine in Adelaide before travelling to Melbourne for the year’s first grand slam.

Djokovic, who set up the breakaway Professional Tennis Players’ Association last year after resigning as the head of ATP’s Players Council, was looking to gain popularity, said Australian Groth.

“Is he serious? It’s a selfish political move to gain popularity,” he wrote in his Herald Sun column.

Groth also pointed to the criticism Djokovic received for organising the Adria Tour in June.

“To suggest players should have shorter quarantine isn’t only ridiculous, it’s insulting to Australians that have had to endure it,” Groth added.
Meanwhile, Bernard Tomic’s girlfriend, Vanessa Sierra, drew flak from Kyrgios after complaining that the food served at their quarantine hotel room was cold, and grumbling about having to 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 that I do. I normally have hairdressers that do it twice a week for me.

“This is the situation that we’re dealing with. I can’t wait to get out of quarantine just so I can get my hair done.”

The 25-year-old Kyrgios, who has railed at tennis players who have breached COVID-19 protocols since the start of the pandemic, was not amused.

“I don’t mind Bernie but his Mrs obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes,” Kyrgios said.
New Zealand’s Artem Sitak has sympathy for players concerned about the risks of competing after two weeks stuck in their rooms, quarantining in hard isolation ahead of the Australian Open.

But the Russian-born doubles specialist says players were made aware they risked being put into quarantine before the tournament and he was going to make the best of the circumstances.

“Especially for singles players, if they have to come out and go play a singles match, it’s very difficult, it’s extremely difficult,” he said of players’ concerns.

“I hope for everyone that they’ll be fine and there will be no injuries. It could happen.

“But as I said in my [social media] post, we knew the risk we were taking and Australia being very, very strict with their rules concerning the virus … this was always a possibility.”