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Nick Kyrgios lays into ATP cha...

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Nick Kyrgios lays into ATP chairman over tour return date


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Nick Kyrgios has dubbed ATP chair Andrea Gaudenzi a "potato" following news the men's tour is to resume in August. 

Having been suspended due to coronavirus since March, the ATP Tour will resume on August 14 with the Citi Open in Washington DC.

Confirmation of the restart date comes hot on the heels of the USTA's announcement that the US Open will be played at Flushing Meadows from August 31.

Earlier this week Kyrgios described the decision to press ahead with the Grand Slam as "selfish", adding, "I’ll get my hazmat suit ready for when I travel from Australia and then have to quarantine for 2 weeks on my return."

The Citi Open and the Western & Southern Open - which has been moved to Flushing Meadows - will serve as warm-up events.

Before the re-arranged French Open gets underway on September 27, there'll be a return to clay at Kitzbuhel on September 8.

Visits to Madrid and Rome will follow before players arrive at Roland Garros.

"Our objective has been to reschedule as many tournaments as possible and salvage as much of the season as we can," Gaudenzi said.

"It has been a truly collaborative effort and we hope to add more events to the calendar as the situation evolves. I would like to recognise our tournaments’ efforts to operate during these challenging times, as well as our players who will be competing under different conditions.

"At every turn, ensuring that the resumption of the Tour takes place in a safe environment will be paramount."

Kyrgios doesn't feel that effort has been so collaborative.

"Cheers mate", the firebrand Aussie tweeted, "You’ve really looked after the players during this time. Seriously fk (sic) me, how about you have a collaborative effort with us, potato."


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ATP Tour Andrea Gaudenzi French Open Nick Kyrgios Tennis US Open

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