Video kills the cop-outs. Video shows exactly what has happened. Video provides the damming evidence when you’re trying to talk your way out of any particular stuff-up. Video proves that Novak Djokovic and his mates on the Adria Tour have treated COVID-19 as a joke. They are guilty of the sort of idiotic social behaviour that almost guarantees the spreading of the virus. If there’s a test for pure hubris, the lot of them will test positive.
There’s something shifty about Djokovic fleeing the Balkans and returning to Monaco without being tested. His reputation is in tatters. His role as chairman of the ATP Player Council is untenable. Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric have both returned positive results after their involvement in Djokovic’s exhibition matches. All players and support staff have fronted at the event hotel in Zadar, Croatia – except Djokovic, reportedly because he “hasn’t felt any symptoms.” It is a poor look at best, a sneaky disappearing act at worst.
Video shows them all partying at Belgrade’s Lafayette Cuisine Cabaret Club like they’re at the Playboy Mansion, or on holidays at Ibiza, or spending the week in Vegas, when they’re meant to be social distancing. They have behaved recklessly. They have acted as if they’re immune to both the virus and health protocols. “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” is one of the songs in the background. It’s jammed a dagger into the image of the world No 1.
They’re all shirtless, Alex Zverev has a bucket on his head, someone does the slug across the floor. The video has a caption in French that says, “And there it goes in a lollipop!” Which translates to something like, “Then all hell breaks loose!” The video ends with, “Anyway, it ended late, very late.”
Nick Kyrgios may be the bonehead’s bonehead when it comes to on-court behaviour but he’s been right to slam Djokovic for this. Britain’s Dan Evans has ripped Djokovic for setting “a poor example.” Evans has told the BBC: “Put it this way, I don’t think you should be having a players’ party and then dancing all over each other. He should feel some responsibility in his event and how it’s transpired.”
They could all have tested positive for pure hubris. Viktor Troicki, a prominent Serbian player, has the virus after his involvement in the series. So has Christian Groh, Dimitrov’s coach, and Marco Panichi, Djokovic’s fitness coach.
Zverev, Marin Cilic and Andrey Rublev say they will gone in to self-isolation for 14 days. Self-admonishment may be just as wise. “I deeply apologise to anyone that I have potentially put at risk by playing this tour,” Zverev, the world number seven, has tweeted.
Djokovic has been in especially close proximity to his buddy Dimitrov. But he’s travelled to Monaco to be tested instead of doing it with everyone else in Croatia. The result is expected to be known later today. The reaction to his behaviour, at his tournament, is all negative. He’s the president of the ATP Player Council and so he’s meant to be the most prudent of the lot. He has to step aside from that role. All credibility is gone. One of his fellow members on the council, Brazil’s Bruno Soares, has told GloboEsporte: “Enormous irresponsibility and huge immaturity. They were totally careless. It’s difficult for me to find the words. I sum it up as a horror show.”
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