Nick Kyrgios joined former Davis Cup player Sam Groth in criticism of Novak Djokovic after the Serbian world number one would have written to Australian Open organizers asking them to ease quarantine restrictions for players.
Passengers arriving on three charter flights were placed in heavy quarantine, including more than 70 players who were unable to train out of their quarters for 14 days before the first Grand Slam of the year began on February 8.
A Spanish tennis website reported that Djokovic wrote Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley with a list of “requirements”, calling for reduced periods of isolation and transferring players to “private houses with tennis courts”.
Djokovic’s management team did not immediately respond to the request for comment.
Kyrgios criticized Djokovic over and over again in 2020 for organizing the Adria Tour exhibition event in the Balkans, where several players, including the best-ranking Serb, contracted the virus.
“Djokovic is a tool,” said Kyrgios, ranked 47th in the world ranking, on Twitter.
Djokovic, who chose to rent a private home instead of staying in a hotel during the 2020 US Open, is among the best players who are fulfilling their mandatory quarantine in Adelaide before traveling to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the year.
Many Australians questioned the decision to host the tournament, with organizers flying over 1,200 players and their companions, when thousands of citizens are trapped abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Djokovic, who founded the dissident Association of Professional Tennis Players last year after stepping down as chairman of the ATP players’ council, was looking to gain popularity, said Australian Groth.
“Is he serious? It is a selfish political movement to gain popularity,” he wrote in his News Ltd. column.
Groth also noted the criticism Djokovic received for organizing the Adria Tour in June.
“To suggest that players should have a shorter quarantine is not just ridiculous, it is an insult to Australians who had to endure,” added Groth.
“What did he think would happen? [Victoria’s Premier] Would Dan Andrews say, ‘Sure Novak, whatever you want’? Spare me. “
Bernard Tomic’s girlfriend Vanessa Sierra was criticized by Kyrgios after complaining that the food served in his quarantined hotel room was cold and complaining about having to wash his hair.
“This is the worst part of the quarantine,” Sierra said on her YouTube channel. “I don’t wash my own hair. I never washed my own hair. It’s just not something I do. I usually have hairdressers who do this twice a week for me.
“This is the situation we’re dealing with. I can’t wait to get out of quarantine just to be able to fix my hair.”
Kyrgios, 25, who criticized tennis players who violated the COVID-19 protocols since the pandemic began, did not like it.
“I don’t care about Bernie, but his Mrs. Obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes,” tweeted Kyrgios.