Australian Open 2022: Nick Kyrgios pleads for cancellation
Nick Kyrgios thinks it would be fitting if the Australian Open 2022 were canceled due to the pressures on the Melbourne population. The Australian explained in a podcast.
by SID
last edit: Nov 16, 2021, 09:00 am
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has called for the Australian Open to be canceled amid the debate about the entry of unvaccinated professionals. The Grand Slam tournament, which begins on January 17, 2022, should, in the opinion of the world rankings, be 90. out of respect for the residents of Melbourne after tough Corona measures do not go through the stage.
"I don't think the Australian Open should take place, if only because of the people in Melbourne - you have to send a message. How long was the lockdown there? 275 days or so?", Said the 26-year-old on Tuesday in his podcast "No Boundaries".
Support for Novak Djokovic
Kyrgios also expressed unexpected support for world number one Novak Djokovic (Serbia), whom he has often heavily criticized in the past. The Prime Minister of the State of Victoria had stated that unvaccinated players would not be granted an exemption to enter the country. As a result, the start of the defending champion and "vaccine skeptic" Djokovic is acutely at risk.
"I'm double-vaccinated but I just don't think it's right to force someone to get vaccinated and say, 'You can't play here because you haven't been vaccinated,'" the Australian said, citing daily tests as Alternative.
Victoria's sports minister meanwhile disagreed with Kyrgios regarding the attitude of the Melburnians to the Australian Open. "The people of Melbourne, Victoria and, to be honest, all Australians are absolutely hungry for big events," said Martin Pakula.