Croatia’s Borna Coric, who played in Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour exhibition tournament at the weekend, has tested positive for Covid-19.
Coric’s positive test follows that of Grigor Dimitrov, who said on Sunday he had contracted coronavirus. Dimitrov also played in Djokovic’s event and the final in the Croatian coastal resort of Zadar was cancelled as a result.
Organisers of other sports looking to resume from the coronavirus shutdown will be watching developments with some trepidation as they try to find the safest way of getting competition back under way.
Coric, ranked No 33 in the world, revealed on Twitter that he had tested positive. “I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during the last few days get tested,” the 23-year-old said. “I am really sorry for any harm I might have caused. I’m feeling well and don’t have any symptoms.”
With international tennis suspended due to the pandemic, world No 1 Djokovic organised the Adria Tour as a charity event to be contested over four legs across the former Yugoslavia. Djokovic’s fitness coach Marco Panichi has also tested positive, Serbian daily Sportski Zurnal reported, quoting Croatia’s health institute.
The tournament witnessed packed stands during the opening leg in Belgrade, players hugging at the net, posing for pictures together and dancing at clubs. With both Serbia and Croatia easing lockdown measures weeks before the event, players were not obliged to observe social distancing rules in either country.
“It is recommended that anyone who has been in close contact for more than 10 minutes with the tennis player be advised to self-isolate for 14 days and to contact their doctor,” the event organisers said in a statement.
Nick Kyrgios was unhappy the event took place at all. “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,” posted the world No 40 on Twitter.
Nicholas Kyrgios
(@NickKyrgios)🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ 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
June 22, 2020
American great Chris Evert had already criticised the organisers for the lack of social-distancing, saying: “Total physical contact, no face masks, even the fans were without masks. I don’t get it.”