His intentions were noble but Novak Djokovic still will have much to answer for after at least four people, including players and coaches, tested positive for the deadly coronavirus during a tournament hosted by the world’s top-ranked tennis player.
The Adria Tour exhibition series started on June 12 and was supposed to be held over four weekends in four different countries of the Balkans but now stands cancelled after top Bulgarian player Gregor Dimitrov and Croatia’s Borna Coric confirmed they had tested positive for the virus.
Serbian media reported that Djokovic’s and Dimitrov’s coaches, Italian Marko Paniki and German Christian Groh were also infected, while results of others who were tested are still awaited.
German player Alexander Zverev said on social media he and his team had tested negative. “I deeply apologise to anyone I have potentially put at risk by playing this tour,” he added.
Apparently, all caution was thrown to the wind while the matches were held with standard protocols not followed.
Djokovic also publicly partied after the Belgrade round even as the tennis world remains in lockdown.
He immediately tested for the coronavirus, state broadcaster RTS reported, quoting the Serb’s PR team.
Even Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic went in for testing, as he met with the players in Zadar.
Understandably, Djokovic has come in for a lot of criticism from current and former players for his cavalier attitude at a time when the entire world is reeling from the pandemic.
“Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’ speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols,” tweeted Australian player Nick Kyrgios. “This IS NOT A JOKE.”
Djokovic has faced criticism for publicising his position against vaccination and his promotion of pseudo-medicine.
Both the ATP and WTA men’s and women’s tennis tours are currently suspended until the end of July with revised schedules starting from August.
The US Open said it will go ahead in New York from August 31, under a strict hygiene protocol, despite the concerns of some players — including Djokovic — that restrictions did not make the tournament viable.
The clay-court grand slam, the French Open in Paris, remains scheduled from September 27.
Elsewhere in Serbia, another high-profile outbreak linked to a football match organised essentially without precautions was reported in Belgrade.
Serbian football champions Red Star Belgrade said five of their players have tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the final Serbian Superleague round against Proleter on Saturday.
Serbia was among the first in Europe to begin relaxing Covid-19 restrictions and was the first on the continent to allow spectators to attend events en masse.
More than 20,000 people were at the national cup semi-final pitting Belgrade rivals Red Star and Partizan on June 10.
The country is keeping most restrictions lifted even though it has been reporting new cases in high double-digits for days.
It’s quite apparent that sportsmen are getting impatient with the pandemic throwing a spanner in the works as far as playing opportunities are concerned.
But like everyone else they should also be patient and bide their time and follow safe practices until conditions are favourable again.