Australian Nick Kyrgios has said the United States Tennis Association (UTSA) is being “selfish” by pressing ahead with the US Open on its original dates from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13.
USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier confirmed on Monday that the tournament was ready to move forward “as long as we get the approvals we need.”
Kyrgios has been in Australia since the pandemic brought a halt to the ATP tour.
“People that live in the US of course are pushing [for] the Open to go ahead ‘Selfish’,” the world No. 40 posted on Twitter.
“I’ll get my hazmat suit ready for when I travel from Australia and then have to quarantine for two weeks on my return.”
Smh – people that live in the US of course are pushing the Open to go ahead 🤦🏽♂️ ‘Selfish’ I’ll get my hazmat suit ready for when I travel from Australia and then have to quarantine for 2 weeks on my return.
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 16, 2020
Novak Djokovic, Ash Barty and Simona Halep have all indicated they would have concerns about playing the tournament under the health protocols designed to keep them safe.
Kyrgios also slammed the ATP Tour as selfish earlier this month for pressing ahead with plans to play the US Open while the virus had not been contained and with the streets of US cities filled with protests at the death of George Floyd.
The 25-year-old also tweeted Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal last week to ask them if they felt the tournament should go ahead. He received no public replies from any of the multiple Grand Slam winners.
Despite the health concerns, American player Danielle Collins has called on the event to go ahead to give players the chance to earn money again and criticised Djokovic for his opposition to the protocols proposed by organisers.
“It’s easy when someone’s made $150 million throughout their career to try and tell people what to do with their money, and then turn down playing in the US Open,” she posted on social media last week.