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Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the US Open because of his concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\nNick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the US Open because of his concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
Kyrgios, the world number 40, said his decision \u201churts me at my core\u201d and criticized some of his fellow players in a video posted on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got no problem with the USTA putting on the US Open and if players want to go, that\u2019s up to them so long as everyone acts appropriately and acts safely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut tennis players, you have to act in the interests of each other and work together.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t be dancing on tables, money-grabbing your way around Europe or trying to make a quick buck hosting the next exhibition. That\u2019s just so selfish.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink of the other people for once. That\u2019s what this virus is about. It doesn\u2019t care about your world ranking or how much money you have. Act responsibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US Open is scheduled to start behind closed doors at Flushing Meadow on August 31.<\/p>\n
Fellow Australian Ashleigh Barty, the current women\u2019s world number one, withdrew from the tournament earlier this week and Andy Murray said he expected more players to follow.<\/p>\n
Reading an open letter on his video, Kyrgios said the global economy and tennis could rebuild, \u201cbut we can never recover lives lost\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDear Tennis, let us take a breath here and remember what is important, which is health and safety as a community,\u201d Kyrgios said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo those players that have been observing the rules and acting selflessly, I say good luck to you. Play at your own risk \u2013 and I have no problem with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will not be playing this year at the US Open. It hurts me at my core not to be out there competing at one of the sports\u2019 greatest arenas, Arthur Ashe Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds and thousands of Americans who have lost their lives. For all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyrgios has been outspoken over health and safety concerns throughout the coronavirus outbreak.<\/p>\n
He was critical of Novak Djokovic after he and several other top players tested positive after playing in an exhibition tournament, the Adria Tour, which the world number one helped organize.<\/p>\n
One of those players, Borna Coric, and Kyrgios have since been at loggerheads over comments made by the Australian regarding the Adria Tour.<\/p>\n