Kyrgios calls for Australian Open to be cancelled
Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday called for the Australian Open to be cancelled, while unexpectedly showing sympathy to tennis world number one Novak Djokovic, who has refused to reveal his vaccination status.
The mercurial Australian said he believed January's opening Grand Slam of the year should not go ahead out of respect for the struggles Melbourne, which hosts the tournament, has endured during the pandemic.
The city has spent more than 260 days under lockdown since coronavirus emerged, and Kyrgios suggested it was not worth risking another setback.
"I don't think the Aus Open should go ahead, just for the people in Melbourne -- you've got to send a message," he said on his podcast, 'No Boundaries'.
"How long did (Melbourne) do in lockdown? 275 days or something?"
Victoria state Sports Minister Martin Pakula disagreed, saying he "couldn't follow the logic" of Kyrgios' comments.
"Melburnians, Victorians, and, frankly all Australians, are absolutely gagging for major events," he told reporters. "Our economy needs it, our state psyche needs it."
The tournament went ahead this year, but players were forced to spend two weeks in hotel quarantine, crowds were restricted and a five-day snap lockdown was called mid-event.
Organisers are adamant it will run as scheduled in 2022, with fully vaccinated players expected to be able to enter Australia without being quarantined or confined to bio-secure bubbles.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has said exemptions would be denied to unvaccinated players, casting doubt over whether nine-time champion Djokovic, who has refused to reveal his vaccination status, will defend his title.
Kyrgios has had a testy relationship with the Serbian, calling him "a tool" at this year's Australian Open over his demands to ease hotel quarantine restrictions for players.
But he appears to have softened his stance, saying Djokovic should be able to compete regardless while referencing basketball star Kyrie Irving who has missed the start of the NBA season after refusing to get a Covid jab.
"Kyrie, Novak ... these guys have given so much, sacrificed so much. They are global athletes who millions of people look up to," said the Australian, who has slipped to 90 in the world.
"I just think it is so morally wrong to force someone to be vaccinated.
"I'm double-vaccinated, but I just don't think it's right to force anyone (to be vaccinated) and say 'you can't come and play here because you're not vaccinated," he added. "There are other solutions around it, (such as) to get tested every day."
Despite calling for the Australian Open to be scrapped, Kyrgios said it was his favourite Grand Slam, but he has little love for the French Open.
"The Australian is my favourite Slam with the home crowd, the pressure is so different," he said.
"The French would be terminated from the calendar completely, it's the worst slam."
(责任编辑:产品中心)
-
PS5 Pro: There are new whispers that the release date is fast approaching
Rumors of a "PS5 Pro" have been rocking the internet all year — and a new batch out of the big ...[详细] -
NK efforts to evade sanctions unsuccessful: expert
North Korean flag (AFP-Yonhap)UN sanctions on North Korea are believed to be pressuring the country, ...[详细] -
请查收!一封来自广东的秋冬风物情书_南方+_南方plus凉风过耳,南粤大地嗅到了秋的气息喝罢秋天的第一杯奶茶秋冬的浪漫便开始了柑橘熟了,香蕉黄了,柚子甜了腊味煲仔饭的炊烟悠扬火锅也正是时候……海鲜肥美 ...[详细]
-
Apple's 2020 iPhone will have a more powerful 3D camera, report says
Apple may be doubling down on its 3D camera tech. A new report from Bloomberg, citing people familia ...[详细] -
The Weird, Wonderful World of Water Towers
These behemoths of steel, iron, or concrete can often be seen for miles around. They’re fixtur ...[详细] -
雅安日报/北纬网讯 近日,记者从市房管局了解到,我市全面完成了2017年保障性安居工程目标任务。数据显示,2017年全市保障性安居工程和危旧房棚户区改造开工3408套,完成目标任务的100%;基本建成 ...[详细]
-
Churches urge to prioritize end of war for peace on Korean Peninsula
Officials of the cooperation body of church groups and civic organizations read a statement urging t ...[详细] -
This Twitter game imagines a world where movie actors are replaced by Muppets
Have you ever watched a movie full of human actors and thought to yourself, "Man, I wish some of the ...[详细] -
The Best AMD Ryzen Gaming Laptops (So Far)
As a culmination to our testing of Ryzen Mobile 4000-H processors and the various laptops they are f ...[详细] -
Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo speaks during a press briefing at the preside ...[详细]
- Apple to start manufacturing iPhone Pro in India, report claims
- Leak reveals Samsung 'Galaxy Buds' for S10 with wireless charging
- Clueless actress Stacey Dash has filed paperwork to run for a California congressional seat.
- Why you got a 'Use this iPhone to reset your Apple ID password?' alert
- The Astounding World of Automata
- Political parties press Tokyo further over Fukushima water discharge decision
- Dianne Feinstein’s rough weekend wasn’t quite as bad as it looked.