Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios says his comments about cancelling the upcoming Australian Open were “taken out of context”.
Kyrgios stunned fans earlier today when he suggested the next Grand Slam tournament should be called off due to the impact COVID-19 lockdowns have put on the Victorian population.
“I don’t think the Aus Open should go ahead, just for the people in Melbourne, you’ve got to send a message,” Kyrgios said earlier on his No Boundaries podcast.
“How long did [Melbourne] do in lockdown? 275 days or something?”
With those comments making headlines around the tennis world, the 26-year-old took to Instagram this afternoon to clear the air.
Kyrgios said his concerns were “more so for the people of Melbourne” and that it wouldn’t be fair to allow players into the country who aren’t vaccinated.
READ MORE: Papali’i rejects huge Dolphins offer
“First of all, I just want to clear up a couple of things. As you know, I’ve started a new podcast with two of my childhood friends, and some things have been taken out of context regarding the Australian Open,” he said.
“I just wanted to send this video to clear it up, and have a bit of clarity. Tennis has been such a big part of my life for 15 years plus.
“I have given myself and a lot of sacrifices every single day for this sport. I love it.
“To say I would want the Australian Open cancelled, that was the sentence that was taken out of context.
“It’s more so for the people of Melbourne, who have been through hell. I think it’s been 275 days, nearly 300 days of lockdown, and your freedom has been taken away from you.
READ MORE: Scottie Pippen says Michael Jordan ‘ruined basketball’
“I don’t think it’s morally right to accept players from overseas that aren’t vaccinated, to come into our country.”
One of the biggest headaches facing the Australian Open is whether world No.1 Novak Djokovic will take part in the event.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has said on many occasions that players arriving in the country must be double vaccinated, which has cast doubt over Djokovic’s availability with the Serbian star refusing to reveal his vaccination status due to what he believes to be a “private matter”.
Kyrgios in his original comments on his podcast defended Djokovic and said it’s unfair to force people to get vaccinated.
He compared Djokovic to NBA star Kyrie Irving, who is out of action for the Brooklyn Nets due to his refusal to get vaccinated.
Irving is unable to play basketball in Brooklyn due to New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which only allows vaccinated athletes to participate in their respective sports.
“Kyrie, Novak, these guys have given so much, sacrificed so much. They are global athletes who millions of people look up to,” Kyrgios said.
“I just think it is so morally wrong to force someone to be vaccinated.
“I’m double vaccinated, but I just don’t think it’s right to force anyone [to be vaccinated] and say ‘you can’t come and play here because you’re not vaccinated’.”