Nick Kyrgios labels Novak Djokovic ‘a tool’ over Australian Open quarantine demands

A total of 72 players are going through 14 days of strict quarantine ahead of the tournament

Nick Kyrgios has labelled Novak Djokovic "a tool" for his attempts to change the Australian Open's quarantine protocols.

A total of 72 players are going through 14 days of strict quarantine following positive coronavirus tests returned by passengers on three of the charter flights that arrived in the country last week ahead of the tournament.

Djokovic is said to have made a number of requests on behalf of the players including a reduction in the time spent in isolation, permission to see coaches and moving athletes to private houses with practice facilities.

The Serbian world number one set up a player association separate to the ATP last summer and has made improving the lot of athletes within the sport a major goal.

World number five Elina Svitolina, Australia's Alex De Minaur and British star Katie Boulter were among those who posted on social media about the quarantine period.

There have been notably fewer social media posts from players complaining, which went down like a lead balloon in a city that endured one of the world's strictest lockdowns, but Bernard Tomic's girlfriend Vanessa Sierra has been ridiculed for a YouTube video about their quarantine experience.

In it, Sierra, who appeared on Australian Love Island, complains about the food supplied by the hotel and says her biggest concern is having to wash her own hair rather than visit the salon twice a week.

Kyrgios took to Twitter to comment on the situation in typically blunt fashion, writing: "Djokovic is a tool. I don't mind Bernie but his Mrs obviously has no perspective, ridiculous scenes."

Djokovic's list received short shrift from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who told local media at a press conference that there would be no exceptions to the rules.

"People are free to provide a list of demands. But the answer is no," he said. 

"I know that there's been a bit of chatter from a number of players about the rules. Well, the rules apply to them as they apply to everybody else, and they were all briefed on that before they came.

"That was the condition on which they came. There's no special treatment here."

PA