Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday called for the cancellation of the Australian Open tennis tournament, showing unexpected sympathy for world number one Novak Djokovic, who declined to say if he's vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The whimsical Australian believes that the Grand Slam tournament, scheduled for January, should not be held, out of respect for the residents of the host city Melbourne, who have experienced 260 days of containment since the start of the pandemic and are still struggling to contain the virus.
“How long has (Melbourne) been confined?
275 days or something like that?
He asked on his podcast, No Boundaries.
The Minister of Sports of the State of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, reacted by saying "cannot follow the logic" of Kyrgios.
“The people of Melbourne, Victoria and frankly all Australians are absolutely hungry for big events,” he told reporters.
"Our economy needs it, the morale of our state needs it".
The tournament was held this year, but players were subject to a two-week hotel quarantine, public attendance was limited and a five-day lockdown was put in place midway through the competition.
"I think it's wrong, morally, to force someone to be vaccinated"
The organizers are confident that the 2022 edition will be held, with fully vaccinated players being able to enter the territory without quarantine or health bubble.
No exemptions will be granted to unvaccinated players, warned Victoria Prime Minister Daniel Andrews, casting doubt on the participation of Serbian Novak Djokovic, nine-time Melbourne titleholder and who refuses to say if he is. vaccinated or not.
Kyrgios had a strained relationship with the world number one, calling him a "moron" during the last Australian Open after his request to relax the quarantine of players.
The Australian now defends Djokovic's right to participate in competitions whether or not he is immune and draws a parallel with American basketball player Kyrie Irving, who missed the start of the NBA season after refusing to be vaccinated.
“Kyrie, Novak… these guys gave so much, sacrificed so much.
These are world athletes that millions of people watch, ”said Kyrgios, who fell to 90th place in the ATP rankings.
"I think it's wrong, morally, to force someone to be vaccinated."
“I don't think it's fair to force someone (to be vaccinated) and say
'you can't come and play here because you're not vaccinated
,' he added.
"There are other solutions, (like) getting tested every day."
Despite the call for its cancellation, Kyrgios ensures that the Australian Open is his favorite Grand Slam tournament, while he has little esteem for that of Roland Garros.
“The Australian is my favorite Grand Slam with the local crowd, the pressure is different,” he said.
"The French should be completely removed from the calendar, it is the worst Grand Slam".
