By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, June 23, 2020
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic joins Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki testing positive for coronavirus after his Adria Tour offered little social distancing and safety protocol.
Photo credit: ATP Cup Facebook
Novak Djokovic was the face of the Adria Tour and now faces the fall-out joining fellow players in testing positive for the coronavirus.
The world No. 1 joined Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki—who all played on the Djokovic-led Adria Tour—contracting COVID-19. High-fives and hugs were on display among players and fans sat side-by-side for the Adria Tour stop in Djokovic's hometown of Belgrade.
More: Coric Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Kyrgios Rips Adria Tour
Djokovic's wife, Jelena, has also tested positive.
The couple's children tested negative for the virus. In a tweet this afternoon, Djokovic said he and his wife will self-isolate for 14 days and be retested in five days.
The eight-time Australian Open champion apologized for harm caused by the Tour.
"I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm," Djokovic said. "Everything the organizers and I did the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. We believed the tournament met all health protocols and the health of our region seemed in good condition to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons...I pray for everyone's full recovery."
“The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested," Djokovic said in a statement. "My result is positive, just as Jelena’s, while the results of our children are negative.
"Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.
"The Tour has been designed to help both established and up and coming tennis players from South-Eastern Europe to gain access to some competitive tennis while the various tours are on hold due to the COVID-19 situation."
The 17-time Grand Slam champion has come under fire for launching the tour without social distancing in his native Belgrade.
Most fans and players did not wear masks prompting some fellow players to criticize the tour. Nick Kyrgios called the Djokovic-led Tour "a boneheaded decision" to play in this coronavirus climate.
Video of world No. 1 Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Filip Krajinovic, Dimitrov and other players dancing shirtless in a Serbian club is circulating on social media.
Player behavior in the video is drawing major criticism after several players announced they tested positive for COVID-19.
The players were partying together at Lafayette Cuisine Cabaret Club in Belgrade, which was the initial stop on Djokovic's Adria Tour, a series of charity exhibitions.
Djokovic said he will remain in isolation for 14 days and repeat his coronavirus test in another 14 days.
It is not known if contracting COVID-19 will impact Djokovic's potential participation in the US Open, which is scheduled to start on August 31st.
"Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with," Djokovic said. "I am hoping things will ease with time so we can all resume lives the way they were.
"I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s health situation and that everyone will be fine. I will remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days, and repeat the test in five days.”
The Adria Tour was cancelled following Dimitrov contracting the virus.
Zverev, Marin Cilic and Andrey Rublev, who all played the Adria Tour, announced they have tested negative for coronavirus and are self-isolating.