24 hours have passed since the future of the Adria Tour was thrown into serious doubt following its first positive COVID-19 test and still the world of tennis awaits some sort of response from its founder Novak Djokovic.
On Sunday evening the Croatian leg of the Tour came to an abrupt end when it was confirmed that participant Grigor Dimitrov had contracted the virus. Who previously withdrew from the tournament due to ‘fatigue’ on Saturday. Organizers were quick to react by scrapping Djokovic’s final clash with Andrey Rublev, but unfortunately the damage had already been done.
The hope of Dimitrov being a one-off were ended this morning when further tests revealed another three people had contracted COVID-19. They are world No.33 Borna Coric, Dimitrov’s coach Kristijan Groh and Djokovic’s fitness coach Marko Paniki. Furthermore, Marin Cilic, Alexander Zverev and Rublev have all confirmed that they will go into self-isolation.
“I deeply apologise to anyone that I have potentially put at risk by playing this tour. I will proceed to follow the self-isolating guidelines advised by our doctors. As an added precaution, my team and I will continue with regular testing. I wish everyone who has tested positive a speedy recovery. Stay safe.” Zverev said in a statement.
Djokovic now finds himself in the firing line following the breakout after also previously being criticised for the lack of social distancing protocols at the Belgrade event. In a recent interview with Eurosport, the Serbian explained that the current situation in the Balkan region is different to the West with their own policies. So from that perspective, technically nothing was done wrong in his opinion. Although some of his rivals differ with their views.
“I don’t think you should be having a players’ party and dancing all over each other and then two very good players test positive,” Dan Evans told British reporters ahead of the Battle of the Brits tournament.
“He (Djokovic) should feel some responsibility for his event and how it has transpired.
“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?”
Andy Murray, who has played Djokovic in seven grand slam finals, points out the complexity of international travel. Organizers throughout the Adria Tour have stressed throughout that their events are being played in accordance with local rules. However, they failed to factor in the international travel aspect with players going to and from various countries. They continued to hold events that would see players interact with members of the public face-to-face or attend parties together. On Monday afternoon Croatian media confirmed a five-year-old boy had caught COVID-19. He was at one stage in close contact with the players whilst attending a private meal with his family, according to jutarnji.hr.
“Once you start to bring international travel into it, with players and team members from all different parts of the world coming in, you need to make sure you’re taking all the correct measures, safety measures, all the precautions that you can, to try avoid a situation like they got into over there,” Murray commented.
Some would argue that it is too harsh to blame this all on one person and undoubtedly this is the last thing Djokovic wanted to happen. Nevertheless the majority of the backlash is coming his way. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he is also a vital figure in men’s tennis. Besides being the world No.1 and founder of the Adria Tour, he is also president of the ATP Players Council.
Therefore he is expected to lead by example, which is why his decision over his own COVID-19 testing is both baffling and poor. On Sunday evening he decided against undergoing a voluntary test (it was optional because he doesn’t show any symptoms) and instead chose to travel back to Belgrade in Serbia. Whilst most of the players who he played alongside got tested. Players were given this option after Dimitrov’s announcement.
There are SO many things wrong with this. This virus is much much bigger than one famous tennis player https://t.co/nhY6osDxO1
— Mitchell Krueger (@mitch_krueger) June 22, 2020
Outspoken Australian Kick Kyrgios was another to voice his anger towards Djokovic. Not that it is the first time he has done so. Kyrgios said it was a ‘bonehead decision‘ to go ahead with the Tour.
Amid the criticism, not everybody is gunning after Djokovic and even questioning his suitability for being the president of the ATP Players Council. France’s Richard Gasquet believes responsibility lies with the local authorities, who authorised the event to go ahead as it did. Gasquet is currently playing in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) which is being played without a crowd.
“Djokovic is not the culprit. It was not he who put a gun on the guys’ temples to demand that there be 5,000 spectators. It was the government that chose to accommodate these 5,000 people in one place. But it is sure that with all these people, it was delusional … It was the only place in the world where we saw an audience like that.” He told L’Equipe.
Djokovic will find out tomorrow if he has tested positive for COVID-19 and make his first public statement. Working out to be between roughly 36-48 hours after Dimitrov’s positive test announcement. He faces some difficult questions to answer in the coming days with many believing that the Adria Tour can no longer continue.
A positive COVID-19 test in tennis was always inevitable, but many feel that Djokovic’s event took too many unnecessary risks and lacked adequate procedures to address the threat of a pandemic among international travellers (the players). Something that seems almost certain to come back and haunt him over the coming days.
