Tennis is well and truly waking up to the reality of Coronavirus. Novak Djokovic has said that he had his wife, Jelena, have tested positive for Covid-19.
Also Read: Adria Tour cancelled
Upon his arrival home from Croatian city of Zadar, which hosted the second leg of the much-criticised Adria Tour, Djokovic and his family were tested.
“The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested,” the world No 1 said in a statement. “My result is positive, just as Jelena’s, while the results of our children are negative.”
“Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.
Prayers up to all the players that have contracted Covid – 19. Don’t @ me for anything I’ve done that has been ‘irresponsible’ or classified as ‘stupidity’ – this takes the cake. https://t.co/lVligELgID
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 23, 2020
“The Tour has been designed to help both established and up and coming tennis players from South-Eastern Europe to gain access to some competitive tennis while the various tours are on hold due to the COVID-19 situation.
“It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this.
“We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met.
“Unfortunately, the virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.
“I am hoping things will ease with time so we can all resume lives the way they were.I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection.
“I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s heath situation and that everyone will be fine.
“I will remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days, and repeat the test in five days.”
Djokovic is by far the most high-profile athlete to have been infected by the virus. The series of unfortunate events began for the Adria Tour, when about 30 minutes before the final of the second leg in Zadar, Grigor Dimitrov announced that he had tested positive for the virus.
Since then Borna Coric, Djokovic’s fitness trainer Marko Panichi and Dimitrov’s coach Kristijan Groh and Viktor Troicki and his wife have also tested positive.
