Dimitrov coronavirus case puts tennis on edge
Nick Kyrgios has slammed the stars who competed in an exhibition arranged by Novak Djokovic as boneheaded.
Nick Kyrgios has slammed the stars who competed in an exhibition arranged by Novak Djokovic as boneheaded as the coronavirus fallout from the event worsened.
A day after former Australian Open semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov revealed he was COVID-19 positive, top Croatian Borna Coric revealed he too now has coronavirus.
The fitness coach of Djokovic, who has been criticised for arranging an event that demonstrated a reckless disregard of social distancing during and after the opening weekend of the exhibition, has also tested positive to the virus.
The coach of Dimitrov is also carrying the virus, but other stars such as Alexander Zverev, US Open winner Marin Cilic and Australian Open finalist Dominic Thiem are believed to have tested negative.
Croatian media is reporting Djokovic, who is the president of the ATP Players Council, has returned to Serbia and is yet to be tested for the virus.
The 17-time major champion was to play Russian Andrey Rublev in the final of the exhibition leg in Croatia when Dimitrov revealed he was positive, with the match immediately abandoned.
While Kyrgios wished his tour rivals – and the Australia does hold shared animosity with some of those who featured in the event including Djokovic – a rapid recovery, he reiterated his disbelief at what had occurred.
“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,” Kyrgios wrote on social media.
The spate of positive tests comes just days after the USTA and other bodies announced the tour will resume in early August with WTA Tour events in Charleston and Palermo.
The US Open is set to proceed under extremely strict guidelines, with players to be based in a hub, with the Cincinnati Masters also relocated to Flushing Meadows a week prior to the major.
Australians including Kyrgios and world No 1 Djokovic have reservations about travelling to New York given the sustained COVID-19 breakout across the US.
The first weekend of the exhibition tour featured stands packed to capacity and ball kids handling the sweaty towels of players.
Footage of players shaking hands, hugging and posing for photographs with arms around each other raised eyebrows.
Vision of stars including Djokovic dancing together while shirtless in a Belgrade nightclub also prompted critiques at a time tennis authorities were working to restart the circuit.
The eight-time Australian Open champion defended the practices, stating the event and the behaviour that unfolded was compliant with Serbian government health protocols.
“You can criticise us and say this is maybe dangerous. But it is not up to me to make the calls about what is right or wrong for health,” Djokovic said.
“We are doing what the Serbian government is telling us. Of course lives have been lost and that’s horrible to see, in the region and worldwide. But life goes on and we as athletes are looking forward to competing.”
Kyrgios is not alone in his criticism of what occurred in the Adria Tour. American Noah Rubin said it was “reckless and disappointing that they thought tennis deserved the risk”.
Richard Ings, a former ATP Tour umpire, executive and ex-ASADA head, described the behaviour that unfolded as ridiculous.
“Tennis. The super spreader sport because of stupidity of people like ND (Djokovic). Running a tennis event with no social distancing, player parties, high fives and hugs and ball kids in a pandemic. Idiocy,” he said.
Dimitrov, 29, revealed he has tested positive for coronavirus after pulling out of the Adria Tour event in Belgrade.
“I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for COVID-19,” world No 19 Dimitrov wrote on Instagram.
“I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering.
“I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions,” he added.
Djokovic’s brother Djordje, who is the overall tournament director, told Sportske Novosti daily paper online edition: “Novak? He took this news very hard. We undertook all the measures prescribed by the governments of Serbia and Croatia.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AFP
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