'This takes the cake': Kyrgios hits out at Djokovic 'stupidity'

Published June 24, 2020
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios criticises Djokovic (not pictured) for holding tennis event with minimum social distancing measures. — AFP/File
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios criticises Djokovic (not pictured) for holding tennis event with minimum social distancing measures. — AFP/File

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has taken aim at Novak Djokovic's “stupidity” after the world number one contracted coronavirus at an exhibition tennis tournament in the Balkans.

The final leg of the Adria Tour in Bosnia has been cancelled and Djokovic on Tuesday apologised for hosting the bungled event, admitting he and organisers “were wrong” to push ahead during the pandemic.

Djokovic, who was not showing any symptoms, joined fellow players Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki in testing positive for Covid-19 during the second leg of the event, where social distancing was minimal and players embraced over the net.

Kyrgios on Tuesday retweeted a video of players including Djokovic dancing shirtless in a nightclub, saying he sent “prayers” to the players who had contracted the virus.

“Don't @ me for anything I've done that has been 'irresponsible' or classified as 'stupidity' — this takes the cake,” he wrote.

The outspoken world number 40 has posted several Tweets criticising the event, and earlier called it a “boneheaded decision to go ahead with the 'exhibition'”.

“(T)hat's what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE.”

The outbreak at the biggest tennis event since the pandemic began has prompted serious questions about the sport's planned official return in August.

It has already been established that the US Open in New York will be played behind closed doors and under strict health protocols which Djokovic described as “extreme” and “impossible”.

The ATP, while wishing those infected a swift recovery, said on Tuesday that it and other stakeholders had “made exhaustive plans to mitigate risks through a variety of precautions and protocols to be implemented at ATP events”.

Opinion

Enter the deputy PM

Enter the deputy PM

Clearly, something has changed since for this step to have been taken and there are shifts in the balance of power within.

Editorial

All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...
Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...