PARTY OVER FOR ‘DJOCOVID’
TENNIS world No.1 Novak Djokovic is under pressure to step down as ATP Players’ Council president amid fears his positive coronavirus test has put the US Open in jeopardy.
Dubbed “Novaxx Djocovid” for his anti-vaccination stance, Djokovic is the fourth player from his own charity event in Croatia to contract the virus.
The Serbian superstar apologised after footage emerged of him partying with fellow players in a nightclub.
Aussie Nick Kyrgios was among those to slam Djokovic for ignoring social distancing.
“Prayers up to all the players that have contracted COVID-19,” Kyrgios posted, retweeting a video of players dancing shirtless in Belgrade.
“Don’t @ me for anything I’ve done that has been ‘irresponsible’ or classified as ‘stupidity’ — this takes the cake.”
Now isolating with wife Jelena, who also tested positive, Djokovic said: “I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm. We believed the tournament met all health protocols and the health of our region seemed in good conditions to finally unite te people for philanthropic reasons. We were wrong and it was too soon.”
Fellow Players’ Council representative Bruno Soares also condemned Djokovic.
“I sum it up as a horror show,” Soares said. “They were totally careless, and it’s difficult for me to find the words.”
When the US Open announced plans t to protect t t playl ers from COVID-19, Djokovic called the plan “extreme”.
But now his fitness coach Marco Panichi, fellow Serb Viktor Troicki, Croat Borna Coric and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and his coach Christian Groh have tested positive after his Balkans event.
Even the US Open going ahead has been questioned.