Djokovic tests positive to covid-19 regrets Adria tour
Novak Djokovic’s disastrous Adria Tour project went from bad to worse Tuesday when the world number one himself announced he had tested positive for Coronavirus.
The 33 year-old Serbian, who has revealed he is an anti-vaxxer, stated that he did not have symptoms but that he had become sixth direct participant in his exhibition series to catch the virus.
It comes after two events, in Belgrade and Zadar, where there was a near total lack of social distancing measures, with players repeatedly getting up close in everything from fun football kickabouts to escapades in nightclubs.
Other players who have tested positive are Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki. There have also been positive tests for Djokovic’s fitness trainer Marco Panichi and Dimitrov’s coach Christian Groh.
The highest profile player of them all tested positive after he returned to Belgrade, having declined to be tested with everyone else at the second event in Croatia. Djokovic’s wife Jelena has also tested positive, although their children have not.
‘The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested,’ he said, before going on to state his good intentions in arranging the exhibition series.
‘Everything we did in in the past month we did with a pure heart. Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.
‘It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this. We organised the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the tour had been met.
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Djokovic hosted a Facebook Live event back in April and revealed he is against having vaccinations.
‘Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,’ Djokovic said