Over the weekend Nick Kyrgios joined an elite list of players to show their support for the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.
On February 14th, 17 people were killed and scores injured when a gunman entered the Florida School. The event has triggered a fierce debate about gun control in America with mass rallies taking part across the country on Saturday. According to CNN, more than 800 marches took place around the world.
The Miami Open also showed their support with players taking to the premier court with students from the school. Besides Kyrgios, Hyeon Chung, Denis Shapovalov Alexander Zverev, Garbine Muguruza and Elina Svitolina also took part.
Last night, players and students stood together to honor the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. #MSDStrong #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/bdIju64eP9
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) 25 March 2018
Kyrgios went the extra mile in showing his support for the students by inviting members of their tennis teams to train with him. According to The Miami Herald, he invited nine members to hit with him during a practice session on Sunday. Although the Australian world No.20 has since played down the significance of his gesture.
“I don’t think I’ve done anything that special, just to bring them out here to a training session, to give them the opportunity to meet professionals and make their day, that’s easy for me,” Kyrgios said. “It made the training session more fun for me and, obviously, it’s a tough time for them, so if they can get out here and get their minds on something else, it’s pretty important.”
👉 @NickKyrgios having a hit with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tennis team. #MSDStrong pic.twitter.com/25egWpVNTv
— IMG Tennis (@IMGTennis) 25 March 2018
Despite having a reputation for volatile behaviour on the court, Kyrgios has a track record in supporting and helping children. Inspire by a trip to a children’s hospital in France, the 22-year-old and his team created the NK Foundation. An organisation that aims to ‘increase access to, and provide sporting facilities to underprivileged & disadvantaged youths’ in his home country.
The Australian also spoke about how it will take time to recover from his recent elbow injury, “I feel good. I’ve got to take it very slowly. I know my body is not 100 per cent just yet, but I also know that it’s going to take some time to get back to where I was and playing at the level I was playing at the start of the year. “At the moment I’m happy, but I’m still taking it very slowly.”
Kyrgios will play his third round match against Fabio Fognini at the Miami Open on Monday.
