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Nick Kyrgios has joined former Davis Cup player Sam Groth in criticizing Novak Djokovic after the Serbian world number one reportedly wrote to Australian Open organizers asking them to relax quarantine restrictions for players .
Passengers who arrived on three charter flights have been placed in strict quarantine, including more than 70 players who cannot train outside of their rooms for 14 days before the start of the year’s first Grand Slam on 8 February.
A Spanish tennis website reported that Djokovic had written to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley with a list of “requests”, asking for reduced isolation periods and players moved to “private homes with tennis courts”.
Djokovic’s management team did not immediately respond to the request for comment.
Kyrgios has repeatedly criticized Djokovic in 2020 for hosting the Adria Tour exhibition event in the Balkans, where several players, including the top-ranked Serbian, contracted the virus.
“Djokovic is a tool,” Kyrgios, 47th in the world, said on Twitter.
Djokovic, who opted to rent a private house instead of staying in a hotel during the 2020 US Open, is among the top players serving their mandatory quarantine in Adelaide before heading to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam of the ‘year.
Many Australians have questioned the decision to host the tournament with organizers carrying 1,200 players and their entourage as thousands of citizens are stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Djokovic, who formed the Separatist Professional Tennis Players Association last year after stepping down as head of the ATP player council, was looking to gain popularity, said Australian Groth.
“Is he serious? This is a selfish political movement to gain popularity,” he wrote in his News Ltd. column.
Groth also pointed out the criticism Djokovic received for organizing the Adria Tour in June.
“To suggest that players should have a shorter quarantine is not only ridiculous, it is insulting to the Australians who had to put up with it,” Groth added.
“What did he think was going to happen?” [Victoria’s Premier] Dan Andrews would say, “Sure Novak, whatever you want”? Save me.”
Bernard Tomic’s girlfriend, Vanessa Sierra, drew criticism from Kyrgios after complaining that the food served in their quarantine hotel room was cold and growled at having to wash their hair.
“It’s the worst part of my 40s,” Sierra said on her YouTube channel. “I don’t wash my hair. I’ve never washed my hair. It’s just not something I do. I normally have hairdressers who do it twice a week for me.”
“This is the situation we are facing. I can’t wait to get out of my forties so that I can do my hair.”
Kyrgios, 25, who has criticized tennis players who have violated COVID-19 protocols since the start of the pandemic, has not had fun.
“I don’t care about Bernie but his Mrs. obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes,” Kyrgios tweeted.
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