Belgrade (AFP)

After months of stoppage due to coronavirus, some of the best tennis players found a semblance of competition and especially a very enthusiastic public in Belgrade, during the charity tournament organized by Novak Djokovic.

The joy of reunion dominates at the Novak tennis center in Belgrade located at the mouth of the Sava, a tributary of the Danube, where the event takes place this weekend.

"To tell you the truth, I had not met so many people in the same place for months," noted with a smile the German Alexander Zverev (N.7) just before the tournament, the first stage of a mini-series d 'tests called "Adria tour".

Zverev sums up the mood of his friends Dominic Thiem (N.3) and Grigor Dimitrov (N.19) and that of their host the "Djoker" who said he was proud to have been able, in the space of a few weeks only, organize this tournament, the first in a series of meetings. They will continue in the region until July 5.

Only downside, the organizers gave up the stage planned in Montenegro on June 27 and 28. Due to strict sanitary measures, the country's borders are closed to Serbian citizens, "an insurmountable obstacle", according to the organizers.

- Meet the stars -

From Friday, the public, all generations combined, flocked to the sports arena.

The players took part in the game, posing for selfies or mixing with a group of children who came to learn tennis.

The public was also able to see Thiem to train with Zverev and attend exhibition meetings.

Former Serbian world No.1 Jelena Jankovic also took part in the celebration. Leaving a retirement of more than two years which has never been formalized, she contested, under the ovations of the public, a mixed double associated with Djokovic.

Started on Saturday, this first stage of the "Adria tour" in Belgrade, contested on clay in two winning sets, of four games, must end on Sunday.

The Serbs Viktor Troicki (N.184), Filip Krajinovic (N. 32) and Dusan Lajovic (N.23) as well as the Bosnian Damir Dzumhur (N.107) are divided into two groups, the winners of which reach the final.

Two major surprises marked the first day. Djokovic bowed to his compatriot Krajinovic in three sets and Dimitrov was beaten in two sets by Nikola Milojevic (N. 168) a young local shoot to replace Dzumhur who gave up (right leg) after two games against Thiem.

In the other meetings, the hierarchy was respected.

- Capital of the tennis planet -

The popularity of Djokovic in the Balkans and the suspension of the ATP and WTA circuits due to a health crisis allowed the world N.1 to set up these charity tournaments. In Belgrade, 2,000 tickets sold like hotcakes. As many tickets have been distributed to sponsors.

"It's fantastic, we are the tennis capital of the planet this weekend," said Dusan Bogicevic, 25, a law student from Belgrade.

Spectators were given a mask at the entrance to the stadium, but few wore it.

Reacting to criticisms of the lack of social distance, Novak Djokovic pointed out that the region recorded a "rather decent" toll - 22 million inhabitants, 24,000 infected people, less than 800 dead -, in its fight against coronavirus.

"You can of course criticize, but it is not for me to say whether it is dangerous or not (...) we only respect what the Serbian government says," he told reporters before the tournament.

After Belgrade, the "Adria Tour" will travel to Zadar, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, where Djokovic and his colleagues will be joined by two Croatian tennis stars Marin Cilic (N. 37), winner of the US Open in 2014, and Borna Coric (N. 33).

© 2020 AFP