Borna Coric positive for coronavirus after Djokovic event
PARIS: Croatia’s Borna Coric announced on Monday he has tested positive for coronavirus after playing in an exhibition tournament in Croatia featuring world number one Novak Djokovic.
“Hi everyone, I wanted to inform you all that I tested positive for Covid-19,” the top 50 player posted on Twitter.
On Sunday, another player, Grigor Dimitrov, said he had also tested positive after pulling out of the exhibition event.
Coric said: “I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during the last few days gets tested!
“I am really sorry for any harm I might have caused! I’m feeling well and don’t have any simptoms (sic). Please stay safe and healthy! Lots of love to all!”
Coric had beaten Dimitrov in the second leg of the Adria Tour in Zadar on Croatia’s Adriatic coast on Saturday.
“I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for Covid19,” world number 19 Dimitrov wrote on Instagram.
“I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering.”
Later on Sunday, the final between Djokovic and Russia’s Andrey Rublev was immediately cancelled as a precaution.
“This is the best possible decision. We have to take care about security of all involved,” former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, the tournament director of the Zadar event, said in remarks quoted by local media.
“Those who were in contact with Grigor will be tested. I tested by chance three days ago and I’m negative.”
Zverev and former US Open winner Marin Cilic were also in the Croatia line-up.
“I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions,” added Dimitrov.
Djokovic’s brother Djordje, who is the overall tournament director, told Sportske Novosti daily paper online edition: “Novak? He took this news very hard. We undertook all the measures prescribed by the governments of Serbia and Croatia.”
Bulgarian Dimitrov is a former world number three who was the ATP Tour Finals champion in 2017, one of his eight career titles.
Last week, the ATP and WTA said they were restarting their tours in August.
However, the US Open in New York will be played behind closed doors and under strict health protocols which Djokovic has described as “extreme” and “impossible”.
The drama surrounding Dimitrov’s test brought sympathy but also questions from fellow players. - AFP