Tennis: two positive cases of Covid-19 during Djokovic's Adria Tour

Could the resumption of tennis in the summer of 2020 be called into question? Two of the players, Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric, reunited by Novak Djokovic for a bacchanal around tennis in the Balkans were tested positive at Covid-19, which suggests a domino effect before the resumption of the ATP circuit - and in particular the 'US Open.

Dimitrov, 19th in the world, was flat for his match against Coric on Sunday in Zadar. The dreaded explanation fell the same evening by a message from the Bulgarian who had hurriedly left his colleagues in Croatia: "I tested positive for Covid-19 when I returned to Monaco".

View this post on Instagram

Hi Everyone-I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for Covid-19. I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions. I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering. Thanks for your support and please stay safe and healthy. GD

A post shared by Grigor Dimitrov (@grigordimitrov) on Jun 21, 2020 at 10:36 am PDT

Unlike the outpourings that had marked the Adria Tour so far, Dimitrov had simply "checked" Coric at the end of their match. His message caused the cancellation of the Zadar final between Novak Djokovic and the Russian Andrey Rublev (14th) and Monday morning, Coric announced in turn to be positive.

pic.twitter.com/4ztqLYvjE4

"Hello everyone, I wanted to tell you that I tested positive for Covid-19. I want to be sure that anyone who has been in contact with me for the past few days will be tested! I am very sorry for the harm that I could do it! "writes Coric (33rd) in a tweet that looks very similar to the one published on Sunday by Dimitrov.

At the same time, Djokovic's physical trainer, Marko Paniki, and Dimitrov's trainer, Kristijan Groh, were also tested positive, according to local press, which said that the world N.1 quickly left Zadar for Belgrade where it was tested. Monday morning.

Sanitary measures almost non-existent

The Serbian capital, whose Red Star football club announced on Monday that five of its players had tested positive for coronavirus, hosted the first stop on the Adria Tour in mid-June. And the images that have been broadcast have something to thrill the advocates of physical distancing.

A packed stadium, almost not a protective mask, players who hug each other on the court, dine together without any precautions, go wild shirtless in a box (were notably noticed in this exercise Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Dimitrov ), play basketball without any contact restrictions ...

None of this was in contradiction with the directives of the regional health authorities. Djokovic had also responded to criticisms of the little distancing observed by highlighting the "rather decent" assessment of the Balkan countries in their fight against the coronavirus. No problem, then.

But that was before ... until Dimitrov and Coric admitted that they had been infected.

"Foolish decision to make the exhibition (...), this is what happens when one does not respect the protocols. It is NOT A Joke", tweeted the Australian Nick Kyrgios.

🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ 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

"How can I explain to my young people that they have to respect distances when Djokovic organizes farandoles on the court? It is a catastrophic image !, vexed the vice-president of the German Federation Dirk Hordoff. not only players, there were a hundred young people in contact with them. There are no health rules and we are proudly showing this on video, my arms fall to me ".

The resumption of ATP threatened?

Because now, we fear a catastrophic domino effect for tennis since also participated in the Adria Tour Dominic Thiem (3rd) and Alexander Zverev (7th). The latter was tested negative, as was Marin Cilic (37th) and Rublev who announced that he would put himself on his own fortnight.

On the other hand, Thiem had left the Balkans a few days earlier to join the south of France to take part in the competition of Patrick Mouratoglou, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) where Stefanos Tsitsipas (6th), Matteo Berrettini ( 8th) and David Goffin (10th).

The UTS organization had announced Friday, photo supporting, that Thiem had been tested on arrival. "All the players have been tested on arrival before participating in the UTS", was keen to point out on Sunday evening the great authorizing officer Mouratoglou.

Still, the Balkan cluster could be expensive for the ATP circuit and the US Open which will take place without qualifications (August 31-September 13) but for which several big names have reported reluctance (including Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep ) regarding health conditions and restrictions.

With AFP

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