Kyrgios right to slam Zverev for wrongdoing amidst pandemic

Conflict over the controversial actions of players involved in the Adria Tour has continued to make headlines this week on social media. Here’s why Nick Kyrgios is right to have spoken out.

Nick Kyrgios has slammed Alexander Zverev via social media platforms for failing to self-isolate after being in and around Covid-19 positively tested players at the Adria Tour. The likes of Novak Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric, and Viktor Troicki all tested positive at the second stage of the event in Zadar, Croatia which led to the cancellation of the tour altogether.

Zverev released a statement on Instagram saying that he would self-isolate for the next 14 days to ensure he wouldn’t spread COVID-19, despite the fact that he had tested negative. This occurred after the slew of positive tests had come out publicly.

Zverev, ranked #7 in the ATP rankings, was then seen partying yet again at a bar in the French Riviera only days later.

As one of the world’s best tennis players, Zverev is in the public eye and therefore has a duty to conduct himself in the best possible manner at all times. His actions have let him down hugely.

Not only has he broken his promise, but he’s also potentially put people’s lives at risk. It’s not on.

Nick Kyrgios, 25, took to social media to share his thoughts on the actions of Zverev. Kyrgios, labeled by many as the ‘bad boy of tennis’, was on the other side of events this time.

Kyrgios is absolutely right to speak out. The wrongdoings of Zverev have the potential to put a damning reputation on tennis and it takes a strong-minded individual to try and prevent this.

We all know what the Australian can be like on the court, but for so many, this is pure entertainment and it brings endless attention to tennis. This is no bad thing and should be welcomed with open arms by the tennis community.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker has defended his compatriot and called Kyrgios a “rat” for speaking out about the issue.

In a somewhat sarcastic Twitter post, Becker urged Kyrgios to “fulfill his potential and win a grand slam” as he is “an incredible role model for the youth of the world”.

Frankly, this is not Boris Becker’s place. The conflict should be between Kyrgios and Zverev to sort out. They are the rising stars and faces of the game so they should be left to sort out their own problems.

Unsurprisingly, Kyrgios hit back at Becker, questioning why he was now talking about tennis. This issue was completely unrelated to tennis. It was a matter of doing the right thing in a global pandemic, which Zverev had not done.

It is time to move on from the Adria Tour. Lessons need to be learned and players need to be forgiven. Nick Kyrgios is right to have spoken out about Zverev and now needs to advocate the importance of adhering to the safety guidelines while tennis continues to make its return.