Tennis star Novak Djokovic on Tuesday became the fourth player to test positive for COVID-19 after participating in the Adria Tour, and said he was “deeply sorry” that the exhibition tournament caused harm despite meeting health protocols in the Balkans.
In a note on posted on his social media, the world number one said that while he and his wife tested positive, the kids’ tests returned negative. The couple will remain in isolation for 14 days before repeating the test.
The Serb apologised for the positive COVID-19 cases that have emerged in the course of the event, and added that it was organised with sincere intentions. He said it was “wrong and too soon” to stage the tournament.
“I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm. Everything the organizers and I did the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. We believed the tournament met all health protocols and the health of our region seemed in good condition to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons. We were wrong and it was too soon,” he wrote.
“I can’t express enough how sorry I am for this and every case of infection.”
The 33-year-old further asked those who attended the tour or have been in contact with attendees to get tested and “practice social distancing”.
“The rest of the tournament has been canceled and we will remain focused on all those who have been affected. I pray for everyone’s full recovery,” Djokovic concluded the note.
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 23, 2020
The Adria Tour saw minimal social distancing as players were seen hugging, shaking hands, playing basketballs and dancing together. Before Djokovic, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, Croatia’s Borna Coric and Serbian player Viktor Troicki, who had appeared in the charity event, tested positive for COVID-19.
World number 3 Dominic Thiem of Austria, Russia’s Andrey Rublev, Croatia’s Marin Cilic and German player Alexander Zverev, who had played in the Adria Tour, confirmed that their tests came back negative, but they will follow self-isolation guidelines.
