As the rest of the sports world was either in lockdown or cautiously returning with closed-door matches, tennis star Novak Djokovic instead opted to host an exhibition tournament, the “Adria Tour,” that basically ignored the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
On Sunday, the reality of the pandemic hit the Adria Tour.
The final of the exhibition event in Croatia was canceled after Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Dimitrov had played on Saturday and traveled back to Monaco after experiencing symptoms. He played in a pickup basketball game with Djokovic and other tennis stars on Thursday. Borna Coric later announced that he also contracted COVID-19.
The tennis world heavily criticized the tournament — which has already included stops in Belgrade and Zadar — as it was being planned. Once the worst-case scenario unfolded, Nick Kyrgios took to Twitter to criticize Djokovic once again.
🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ 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. https://t.co/SUdxfijkbK
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 22, 2020
Congratulations. Such leadership 🤦🏽♂️ https://t.co/rHWpMC7tqD
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) June 22, 2020
Djokovic’s fitness coach Marco Panichi was also among the Adria Tour participants to test positive for the coronavirus. But despite Djokovic’s close contact with COVID-positive people, Djokovic has elected to not be tested.
Novak Djokovic the only one not to go for testing, this guy is going from bad to worse.
It’s unfathomable that someone with the influence that he has is acting like this. Could almost say he’s bringing tennis into disrepute! #Djokovic pic.twitter.com/uDXl74MNpB
— Val Febbo (@VFebbo96) June 22, 2020
None of this is a good look for Djokovic. And let’s hope the situation doesn’t get any worse.
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