Tennis player Novak Djokovic has revealed that he has no regrets over the ill-fated Adria Tour, and attacked the media for their “witch-hunt”, criticising him over his decision to hold the charity event in June amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t think I’ve done anything bad,” he told New York Times. “I do feel sorry for people that were infected. Do I feel guilty for anybody that was infected from that point onward in Serbia, Croatia and region? Of course not. How can you blame one individual for everything?”
“We tried to do something with the right intentions. Yes, there were some steps that could have been done differently, but am I going to be then forever blamed for doing a mistake?
“I mean, OK, if this is the way, fine, I’ll accept it, because that’s the only thing I can do.
He added that he would do it all over again as the media was targeting him for the fiasco at the tournament.
“If I had the chance to do the Adria Tour again, I would do it again. It’s like a witch hunt.”
However, earlier he had expressed on social media that he was “deeply sorry” that the exhibition tournament caused harm. Then he had said it was “wrong and too soon” to stage the tournament.
“I can’t express enough how sorry I am for this and every case of infection,” he had written in a note on Instagram.
During the Adria Tour, which was held in Serbia and Croatia, four players including Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki contracted the virus. Djokovic’s wife Jelena and coach Goran Ivanisevic also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Djokovic was heavily criticised for organising the event amid the pandemic and not following any of the safety protocols as players were seen partying, playing basketball and hugging one another at the net with scant regard for social distancing norms.
The world number one is currently preparing for the US Open, which will begin on August 31 without the presence of fans, even as several high-ranking players, including defending champion Rafael Nadal and women’s number one Ashleigh Barty, have withdrawn from the event at Flushing Meadows citing risks due to COVID-19.
The 17-time grand slam champion further said that he did not want to lose out on the opportunity to close in on Roger Federer’s record of 20 titles. Federer is out for the rest of the season due to a knee surgery.
