Kyrgios won’t be playing at the US Open

NICK Kyrgios is the latest player to withdraw from the US Open, while Alexander Zverev has said he would go to New York even though he considers playing the Grand Slam amid the coronavirus crisis “crazy”.

Organisers have meanwhile reiterated that they want to stage the tournament as planned from August 31, as well as the Cincinnti Masters, moved to the same venue, a week earlier.

But concerns are growing after Madrid Open organisers said that their September event could be scrapped after a recommendation from local health authorities, and a player due to participate in next week’s women’s WTA Tour restart in Palermo testing positive for Covid19.

The recent return of tennis for exhibition events has also seen coronavirus-related problems.

Top men’s player Novak Djokovic became infected in June after playing in his own exhibition tournament, the Adria Open.

Kyrgios, 25, is a very outspoken critic of the events in Europe, and has now said he won’t go to New York, just as compatriot and women’s world No 1 Ash Barty.

“I will not be playing this year at the US Open. It hurts me in my core not to be out there competing,” Kyrgios said in a video on Twitter on Saturday.

“But I am sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have lost their lives, for all of you. It’s my decision ... and those are my reasons,” the world No 40 said.

Kyrgios added he has “no problem” with the organizers putting on the tournament and “if players want to go, that’s up to them. So long as everyone acts appropriately and acts safely”.

The New York events at Flushing Meadows are to take place behind closed doors and amid a strict safety and health protocol, with players only to move between their hotel and the venue, their entourage drastically reduced, and regular tests.

Zverev, 23 – who participated at the Adria Tour but didn’t contract the virus, and came under fire for a video in a nightclub which showed no social distancing –, expressed mixed feelings at a weekend exhibition event in France.

“It is a little crazy to play the US Open now,” the seventh-ranked German said as the US remains one of the hardest hit countries by the pandemic, with New York one of the hotspots in spring.

“I would prefer it if the US Open didn’t take place and we start in Europe ... It is not the right time to fly to America now.”

But he also said: “If the US Open takes place, what should we players do?

“Especially if everyone is playing, it’s also about ranking points.”

However, it remains to be seen who will eventually board a plane to New York, especially from the players who live abroad.

The US tennis federation has reiterated that it “continues its plans” to stage both tournaments and that “New York State continues to be one of the safest places in the country as it relates to the Covid-19 virus”.