Dimitrov accused of being ‘superspreader’
The alarming outbreak of Covid19 at Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour has now been followed by a finger-pointing exchange between Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, and Grigor Dimitrov’s agent, over where the infection might have stemmed from.
When Srdjan Djokovic accused Dimitrov of being the source, agent Georgi Stoimenov suggested that the tournament organisers were ‘‘the ones responsible for the safe running of the event’’. There was also an intervention from Nick Kyrgios, the most vocal locker-room critic of the Adria Tour.
Writing on Twitter, Australian star Kyrgios posted an image of Srdjan Djokovic, accompanied by his quotes on Dimitrov and said: ‘‘Nah bruh, don’t push the blame.’’
In an interview with a Croatian broadcast channel, Srdjan Djokovic said: ‘‘Why did it all happen? It happened because the man [Dimitrov] came sick from who knows where. He did not get tested here, and he was tested elsewhere.’’
According to Srdjan Djokovic’s narrative, Dimitrov could have been what epidemiologists call a ‘‘superspreader’’, having flown in to Belgrade in time for the start of the tour on June 14.
This was hardly the only possible explanation, especially given the intermingling of athletes from other sports with the tennis players. Nikola Jankovic was one of several basketball players who tested positive after a derby match between Red Star and Partizan, which Djokovic attended on June 11.
Another positive test was confirmed involving Serbian basketballer Nikola Jokic. He is an All-NBA centre who plays for the Denver Nuggets, and has now been forced to delay his return to the United States.
According to reports, Jokic spent time with Djokovic at the Belgrade leg.
Four players – Dimitrov,
Djokovic, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki – have tested positive, along with two coaches and Djokovic’s wife, Jelena. In a statement released on Wednesday (NZ time), Djokovic said: ‘‘I am so deeply sorry our tournament has done harm.’’
Dimitrov does not seem to have been completely asymptomatic, at least by the end of his time in Zadar. He was clearly under the weather by the end of Sunday’s match with Coric, which he lost badly. He did not shake hands.