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World No.1 Djokovic and wife Jelena test negative for Covid-19
BELGRADE: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena have tested negative for Covid-19, nine days after returning a positive test, the world No.1 said on Thursday.
Djokovic, along with Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki, tested positive after playing in the Adria Tour, an exhibition tournament organised by the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
“Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena tested negative for Covid-19, as the most recent test they took in Belgrade showed. They felt no symptoms of the virus and took the test after consultations with the doctors,” the statement said.
“They spent the past 10 days in selfisolation upon returning from Zadar [in Croatia], having adhered to all Covid-19 protocols and safety measures.”
The tournament witnessed packed stands during the opening leg staged at Djokovic’s tennis complex in Belgrade from June 13-14, with players hugging at the net, playing basketball, posing for pictures and attending press conferences together.
The second leg was held in Zadar from June 20-21.
The players did not break any Serbian or Croatian government protocols, as neither country required the athletes to maintain any social distancing.
However, Djokovic, who was heavily criticised for staging the event, issued an apology, saying he was extremely sorry for the harm that had been caused.
ROLAND GARROS TO HAVE FANS
Up to 60 percent of the usual capacity will be allowed inside the Roland Garros grounds for the 2020 French Open amid the coronavirus crisis, organisers said on Thursday.
French federation president Bernard Giudicelli told a news conference that on the main courts, a maximum of four people could sit together with an empty seat between groups.
On the other courts, one seat out of two will be empty when the main tournament starts on Sept 27.
Giudicelli explained that it meant about 20,000 spectators are expected during the early stages of the two-week claycourt Grand Slam, and about 10,000 on the final day.
Those numbers could change if the French government revises its social distancing rules.
“We went for the responsible option,” said Giudicelli, who added that wearing a protective mask would be mandatory for people on the move inside the grounds while it would only be recommended for people sitting courtside.
“Should the situation evolve in the right direction, new tickets would be available in September.”
In case stricter measures would have to be imposed, there will be draw held to decide which tickets will be cancelled.
The FFT added that the Covid-19 protocols for players and staff were still being drafted.
The French Open was postponed from its usual May-June dates to September due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The US Open will be held without spectators in New York from Aug 31 to Sept 13.