EVANS SLAMS DJOKOVIC
DAN EVANS has condemned Novak Djokovic after three top tennis stars tested positive for coronavirus at an exhibition tournament staged by the world No1.
The Serb’s Adria Tour has been called off after Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki tested positive over the weekend along with two coaches. Matches were played in packed stadiums in Belgrade and Zadar with no social distancing between the players. The stars were also filmed dancing together topless in a nightclub in the
Serbian capital after the first event. Djokovic, who is expecting the results of an emergency test for Covid-19 today, insisted his events had followed local rules.
But British No1 Evans said: “I just think it is a poor example to set. Should Novak Djokovic, the world No1 and the chairman of the Player Council, be setting a better example? I think your
question answers what I think. Yes. I don’t think you should be having a players’ party and dancing all over each other and then three very good tennis players have tested positive. “You should feel some responsibility in his event and how it has transpired. It is not a joke, is it? Even if the guidelines were taken away in this country to normal, I would still be trying to keep myself out of the way as much as I could from other people. And I just think there has been a total disregard to that.
“It is very unfortunate that Grigor, Coric and Viktor have it, but if you strip it back, is it a surprise?
“I hope there is no second-guessing now on
the US Open because of unfortunate events.” Nick Kyrgios tweeted after the news about Coric, pictured with Djokovic right, Troicki and Dimitrov: “Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’ speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE.”
Andy Murray, while stressing he was not attacking Djokovic personally, said: “It’s just not a good look for the sport when something like this happens.
“I hope we learn from it and off the back of it, they will be taking it extremely seriously because ultimately the tour won’t get back again if we are having problems every single week and players are doing what they want. We need to make sure we are doing the right thing.”