‘Djokovid’ ridiculed
World no. 1 apologises for hosting virus-ridden tourney
World number one Novak Djokovic was widely condemned for hosting a tennis exhibition where he was one of four players to test positive for the coronavirus, a lapse that sent shudders through a sport struggling to get back on its feet.
The Serbian star said he was “deeply sorry” in an apology for the now-cancelled Adria Tour, where social distancing was minimal and matches were played in front of thousands of fans.
However, criticism was swift and heavy, with many voicing concerns over attempts to restart professional tournaments in August, including the US Open Grand Slam which is scheduled to begin on Aug 31.
Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested positive after taking part in the Adria Tour, where players embraced across the net, played basketball and even danced in a nightclub.
“I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm,” Djokovic, 33, said in a statement. His wife Jelena also tested positive after attending the “philanthropic” tour in the once war-torn Balkans.
As the mocking hashtag #Djokovid circulated online, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, so often in the crosshairs for his own on-court indiscretions, said the incident was pure “stupidity”.
“Don’t @ me for anything I’ve done that has been ‘irresponsible’ or classified as ‘stupidity’ – this takes the cake,” tweeted Kyrgios.
Britain’s Andy Murray, a threetime Grand Slam winner who has known Djokovic since their junior days, said: “I don’t think it has been a great look for tennis.”
“In hindsight, it’s not something that should have gone ahead,” Murray told reporters.
“It’s not surprising how many people have tested positive after seeing some of the images of the players’ party and the kids’ day.
There was no social distancing in place.”
Even before the Adria Tour, Djokovic was criticised for breaking lockdown rules to train in Spain, and he then raised eyebrows by insisting he wouldn’t be prepared to vaccinate against the coronavirus.
Djokovic also described limits on players’ entourages at the US Open as “extreme” and “impossible”, again putting him at odds with much of public opinion. — AFP