Factbox: Djokovic slammed after testing positive for COVID-19

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FILE PHOTO: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during Adria Tour at Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, Serbia, June 13, 2020. Picture taken June 13, 2020. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

(Reuters) – World number one Novak Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, days after he hosted a number of players in the Adria Tour exhibition tournament in the Balkan region.

Djokovic was criticised for hosting the tournament amid a pandemic after Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki also returned positive tests after playing in the tournament that was held in Serbia and Croatia.

Following are reactions from the tennis world to the Serb’s positive test:

Nick Kyrgios, two-times Grand Slam quarter-finalist:

“Prayers up to all the players that have contracted COVID-19. Don’t @ me for anything I’ve done that has been ‘irresponsible’ or classified as ‘stupidity’ – this takes the cake,” the Australian wrote.

Andy Murray, former world number one:

“Obviously it’s not surprising how many players have tested positive when you see the scenes and the images and the videos from the tournament and the players party with no social distancing in place,” Murray said at the ‘Battle of Brits’ tournament.

“I’ve seen some people say this puts the U.S. Open in doubt but the measures and the protocols they have in place are completely different to what was going on in Serbia and Croatia.

“For a start, there will be no fans and the players will now know we can all be affected by this, it doesn’t matter who you are, we need to respect the rules.”

“Maybe they are starting to get it now. Nothing’s foolproof so don’t be foolish. That’s my message.”

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi:

“Obviously we feel sorry for the players. We want them to recover as soon as possible,” he told the New York Times.

“I know there has been a lot of criticism, but on the other hand, we at the ATP, the USTA, and everybody, we have to be careful because we also have to be conscious that even with extreme measures, you could actually end up having some players testing positive.

“You don’t need players and people hugging each other for someone to test positive. So we’re all running the risk.”

Croatian Tennis president Nikolina Babic:

“Some minor mistakes may have been made, but the idea (for the tournament) was a good one,” Babic told Croatian daily Vecernji List here

“In Zadar, we had players for whom we usually have to pay 10 million euros ($11.3 million) to bring. It was an opportunity that may never come to us again.”

Radmilo Armenulic, former Yugoslavia Davis Cup coach:

“Djokovic shot himself in the foot by organising the Adria Tour. The organisation of the Belgrade leg was catastrophic, the stands were so full that fans were virtually sitting on top of each other,” he told Reuters.

“He staged this event with the best of intentions but it turns out it was a big mistake.”

Donna Vekic, who featured in a mixed doubles match with Djokovic and Coric at the tournament:

“Just wanted to inform you that I have tested negative for COVID-19 and I will do another test on Friday,” she wrote on Twitter here

“According to input from medical experts, I am self-isolating. Wishing everyone who tested positive a speedy recovery.”

Over the past two days, organisers have also been criticised for allowing stands to be packed with fans during the opening leg in Belgrade.

With no social distancing rules in place in Serbia, players hugged at the net, played basketball, posed for pictures, attended press conferences and were out dancing together.

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