Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the US Open because of concerns over the coronavirus and in honor of the "hundreds and thousands of Americans" who died from COVID-19.

Kyrgios said in an Instagram post on Sunday that he had no problem with the United States Tennis Association proceeding with the tournament from Aug 31 to Sept 13. But he cited health and safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic as he joined fellow Australian and world No 1 Ash Barty in opting out of the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam tournament.

"I will not be playing this year at the US Open. It hurts me at my core not to be out there competing in one of the sport's greatest arenas, Arthur Ashe Stadium," Kyrgios said in the video. "But I'm sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds and thousands of Americans that have lost their lives, for all of you. It's my decision."

"We can rebuild our sport and the economy," Kyrgios added, "but we can never recover lives lost."

Xinhua - Agencies