ADVANTAGE VIRUS!
Tennis star’s tour shambles as now HE tests positive
A TENNIS star’s controversial tour descended into embarrassment last night as he revealed he had tested positive for Covid-19.
Novak Djokovic became the sixth participant of the charity tournament he organised to contract the virus.
The world tennis No.1 had been pictured partying topless in a nightclub with other players days after his controversial exhibition tour kicked off.
The Adria Tour, hosted in the Serbian capital of Belgrade and the Croatian city of Zadar, had already seen fellow players Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki test positive for coronavirus.
Djokovic’s wife Jelena, his fitness trainer Marco Panichi and Dimitrov’s coach Christian Groh have also tested positive for the virus, which has accounted for more than 470,000 deaths worldwide.
During the tour pictures emerged of Djokovic, who is against vaccinations, in close contact with friends as they ignored social distancing rules.
The 33-year-old Serbian tested positive after he returned to Belgrade – having declined to be tested with everyone else at the second event of his tour in Zadar.
He said: ‘The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested.
‘Everything we did in the past month we did with a pure heart. It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need.
‘We organised the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the tour had been met. Unfortunately this virus is still present and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.’
He added: ‘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.’
Last Sunday’s final of the Adria Tour was cancelled after Dimitrov tested positive. Earlier in the tour Djokovic was pictured grappling with Dimitrov, former world No.3, during a game of basketball. Djokovic to the fight has against made coronavirus. two major donations
In a Facebook Live event in April where he declared his opposition to vaccines, he said: ‘Personally I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine to be able to travel. I have my own thoughts about the matter. Whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.’ His behaviour was criticised by his fellow professionals, with Australian Nick Kyrgios calling his decision to tour and not abide by social distancing ‘boneheaded’. ‘That’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This is not a joke,’ he said. British No.1 Dan Evans added: ‘I just think it is a poor example to set. Even if the guidelines in that country are not two metres... it is not a joke is it?’
Meanwhile Andy Murray said: ‘When you are going through a time like this, it’s important any of the top athletes around the world are showing that we are taking this extremely seriously.’
‘I hope everyone will be fine’