Nick Kyrgios delivers on food pledge to help Australian people during coronavirus crisis

Tennis' world No 40 led fundraising efforts for bushfire relief at the start of the year

epa08146893 Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates after winning his first round match against Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2020.  EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
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Nick Kyrgios continues to prove his bad boy image is consigned exclusively to the court after images showed the Australian tennis star delivering on his promise to help vulnerable people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kyrgios posted last Monday to his Instagram account a post saying he would personally drop food on doorsteps after Covid-19 restrictions closed down entire industries, forcing huge numbers of people out of work across Australia.

People queueing for welfare payments across the country have been likened to scenes from the Great Depression.

"Please don't go to sleep with an empty stomach," Kyrgios, the world No 40, posted. "Don't be afraid or embarrassed to send me a private message. I will be more than happy to share whatever I have.

"Even just for a box of noodles, a loaf of bread or milk. I will drop it off at your doorstep, no questions asked!"

His mother, Norlaila Kyrgios, posted on Instagram over the weekend a photo of a table laden with food - including bread, fruit and canned goods - with the caption "dining room or food distribution centre".

Images of Canberra-based tennis star's Instagram stories shared on News Corp websites showed boxes of essentials captioned "deliveries in progress".

It comes just months after the 24-year-old Kyrgios led a bushfire relief campaign that raised millions of dollars.

Kyrgios gave Aus$200 (Dh466) for every ace he hit across his home tennis summer, which ran until the end of the Australian Open.

Other players and Australian Open organisers jumped on board the fundraising drive, also contributing large sums to people affected by the deadly fires.