Nick Kyrgios blasts Novak Djokovic over 'scary' new virus claim
Nick Kyrgios has once again taken aim at Novak Djokovic after an interview where he defended hosting the ill-fated Adria Tour.
The World No.1 and wife Jelena both contracted coronavirus at the Adria Tour exhibition event in June, an event he was the face of and helped organise.
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He was widely condemned for holding the event in the middle of the coronavirus crisis in Serbia and Croatia, with fellow players Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki also testing positive.
“Whether it's fair or not, you tell me, but I know that the intentions were right and correct, and if I had the chance to do the Adria Tour again, I would do it again,” Djokovic told the New York Times on Thursday.
“I don't think I've done anything bad to be honest. I do feel sorry for people that were infected.”
But Kyrgios was having none of it and blasted the World No.1 for taking ‘zero ownership’.
“Scary that people take zero ownership,” Kyrgios said on his Instagram story.
“Group of albatrosses.”
It’s not the first time Kyrgios has blasted members of the Adria Tour.
He labelled those who went ahead with the exhibition as ‘boneheaded’ and blasted Alexander Zverev for his antics after the event.
Kyrgios also entered a war-of-words with Dominic Thiem after he took a shot at the Aussie for trying to hold those accountable for the event.
“What are you talking about @ThiemDomi,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.
“Mistakes like smashing rackets? Swearing? Tanking a few matches here or there? Which everyone does?
“None of you have the intellectual level to even understand where I’m coming from. I’m trying to hold them accountable.”
Djokovic keen to catch Federer’s record
Kyrgios and WTA World No.1 Ash Barty have opted not to travel to the US Open due to health concerns regarding the coronavirus.
But Djokovic mentioned, in the interview, catching Federer’s 20 Grand Slam record was a reason for heading to the US Open.
The 33-year-old has won five of the past seven men’s singles grand slams but came to the New York hardcourts only after assurances from European officials that players returning from the US Open would not face a long quarantine before upcoming European events such as the French Open.
Djokovic has been filmed training in an empty Arthur Ashe stadium, which will be reminiscent of the Grand Slam since no fans are allowed.
