Novak Djokovic faces questions over Adria Tour event as Borna Coric tests positive for coronavirus

Borna Coric has become the latest tennis player to test positive for coronavirus after playing on Novak Djokovoic’s heavily-criticsed Adria Tour.

World No 19 Grigor Dimitrov announced on Sunday that he had returned a positive COVID-19 test – he had faced Coric on Saturday.

Croatian Coric has now warned those he has been in contact with that he has been asymptomatic.

The Adria Tour events were organised by Djokovic to help players get back up to speed – just a couple of months after he was criticised for his anti-vaccine stance when he claimed he may have to delay his return were it to be made compulsory for him to take any safeguard that emerged against the virus. That drew the ire of leading Serbian government epidemiologist Predrag Kon, who is concerned about the influence that the nation’s top sporting icon could have on others. 

Djokovic’s wife Jelena also holds what many would consider unconventional views. She has had a ‘false information’ label slapped on one of her Instagram posts after she shared a video promoting the belief that coronavirus could be spread via 5G technology.  

Now, the Adria Tour events have come under fire and Djokovic will have more questions to answer.

The tournament’s social media posts had pictures of Dimitrov playing basketball and he had his arm round Coric at the net before their match.

Players had also been playing football and to mark the end of the Belgrade part of the tour, some were dancing together in a nightclub with their shirts off. 

‘Hi everyone, I wanted to inform you all that I tested positive for Covid-19,’ Coric wrote on Instagram. ‘I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during the last few days gets tested! I am really sorry for any harm I might have caused!

‘I’m feeling well and don’t have any simptoms (sic). Please stay safe and healthy! Lots of love to all!’ 

The most recent tournament in Zadar – where world No 1 Djokovic was set to play in Sunday’s final against Andrey Rublev – was cancelled following Dimitrov’s test.

But that was not enough for outspoken Australian Nick Kyrgios, with the world No 40 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,’ he posted on Twitter.

According to the Telegraph, Djokovic was not among the stars who underwent emergency Covid-19 tests in Croatia on Sunday night after it emerged that Dimitrov contracted the virus.  He is reported to have headed straight back to Serbia as he did not feel any symptoms. A translated statement from Adria Tour officials from SportKlub adds that ‘after arriving home in Belgrade he will contact the epidemiologist and he will continue the procedure with his doctor according to the medical recommendations of the medical service.’

The pictures from the Belgrade leg posted on social media showed the likes of Djokovic, Alex Zverev and Dominic Thiem dancing in a nightclub.

Meanwhile, Dimitrov revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus just days after playing basketball with Djokovic and Co. 

The possibility of contagion is high, especially considering the apparent lack of regard for safety precautions along the way on the Adria Tour. 

Djokovic has previously been forced to dismiss criticism of the big crowds that have attended the Adria Tour.

And following Dimitrov’s positive test, the Adria Tour also put out a defensive statement on Sunday night, saying that ‘at all times, we have strictly followed the epidemiological measures in place.’