Criticism keeps coming for Novak Djokovic as another tennis player tests positive to COVID-19

A third tennis star has contracted COVID-19 after taking part in Novak Djokovic’s event that hosted wild parties and ignored social distancing.

James Matthey and Reuters

2 min read

June 23, 2020 - 9:51AM

Novak Djokovic ignores social distancing and hosts wild parties instead

Tennis stars Andy Murray and Dan Evans have hit out at Novak Djokovic after another player who took part in the world No. 1’s Adria Tour tested positive for COVID-19.

Victor Troicki became the third player to contract the disease and there are reports his wife, who is due to give birth in July, also tested positive.

Earlier, Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric both announced they’d tested positive after playing in the Adria Tour, an exhibition tournament launched by Djokovic that saw events played in Belgrade in Serbia and Zadar in Croatia.

Other stars such as Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev also featured on the Tour, where players were pictured playing basketball and dancing shirtless together without following social distancing protocols.

The mind-boggling scenes of players not taking any precautions to prevent against the spread of coronavirus were widely slammed when jarring images of the tournament emerged two weekends ago, and stars who weren’t involved in the Adria Tour have since come out and criticised Djokovic and Co. in the wake of the positive test results.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Murray said: “In hindsight with what’s happened there it is not a good look.

“When you are going through a time like this it’s important any of the top athletes around the world should be showing that we are taking this extremely seriously and knowing that we are using social distancing measures and whatever it is.

“I hope that 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 the players are doing what they want. We need to make sure we are doing the right thing.”

Aussie Nick Kyrgios slammed the “boneheaded” decision to hold the Adria Tour while world No. 28 Evans also attacked Djokovic, referencing footage that surfaced of tennis stars dancing with their shirts off at a party in Belgrade.

Djokovic still has a video up on his Instagram of an Adria Tour party from three days ago, but in this instance everyone decided to keep their shirts on.

“I don’t think he (Djokovic) should be having a players’ party and dancing all over each other,” Evans said before Troicki’s positive test was confirmed.

“Two very good tennis players have tested positive. He should feel some responsibility in his event and how it’s transpired, really.

“It’s very unfortunate that Grigor has it and Coric has it but you strip it back, is it a surprise? I think that’s the question we should all ask.”

American tennis great Chris Evert also criticised Adria Tour organisers for the lack of social distancing.

I donâ€™t understand... no safe distancing, total physical contact, no face masks, even the fans were without masks.. I donâ€™t get it.. not smart...hope no one else tests positive. Get well GrigorðŸ™ðŸ¼ https://t.co/3RpPEp3XjH
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) June 22, 2020

Djokovic’s own coronavirus test results will be revealed late on Tuesday evening (AEST) after which he will address the public, Serbian media reported on Monday.

The trio of positive tests raise serious concerns for the governing bodies of tennis in their bid to restart the sport after the professional game was shut down in March.

Last week the ATP and the WTA issued revised calendars for the resumption of the circuit from August while organisers of the US Open said the grand slam will be staged without fans starting on August 31.