Novak Djokovic tests positive for Covid-19

Novak Djokovic, the men’s world number one tennis player, has tested positive for Covid-19, the Serbian has said in a statement.

Croatia’s Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Viktor Troicki have previously tested positive after playing in Djokovic’s Adria Tour exhibition tournament in the Balkan region.

In a statement on his website, Djokovic said he and his wife Jelena, who also tested positive, were currently asymptomatic and would self-isolate.

Djokovic said: “I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s health situation and that everyone will be fine.”

With international tennis suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Djokovic had organised the Adria Tour as a charity event to be contested over four legs across the former Yugoslavia.

With both Serbia and Croatia easing lockdown measures weeks before the event, players were not obliged to observe social distancing rules in either country.

The event, which took place in front of crowds with little evidence of social-distancing, was criticised by other players.

Djokovic in action against Pedja Krstin during the Adria Tour at the weekend.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios called the decision to stage the event “boneheaded” while British number one Dan Evans described it as “a poor example to set”.

Djokovic travelled from the tournament in Zadar, Croatia to his home in Serbia before being tested for the virus.

In the statement, he continued: “The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested. 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.”

Djokovic added that he “will remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days, and repeat the test in five days.”

A following statement confirmed that the remainder of the Adria Tour had been cancelled – the two-day event on 3 and 4 July in Banja Luka, Bosnia and the planned exhibition match with Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in Sarajevo on 5 July.

“We are extremely disappointed to have to cancel the events in Banja Luka and Sarajevo,” said Novak’s brother Djordje Djokovic, the director of the Adria Tour.

“We were looking forward to treating fans in these two cities to watching Novak Djokovic and other top players. Unfortunately, the recent events make everyone’s speedy recovery a top priority.”

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