Novak Djokovics Adria Tour - super meltdown for tennis
It should have been the revival of tennis, with fans, ball kids and all the trimmings. Instead, the Adria Tour organized by Novak Djokovic has deteriorated into a major debacle.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jun 22, 2020, 11:14 am
In the past two weeks, a lot of things seemed to be as always on one of the more prominent faces of the tennis touring circus. Grigor Dimitrov, the former ATP world champion (2017), happily traveled around the world from Florida to Europe. From Monte Carlo to Belgrade, in between quickly to home Bulgaria, then back to Croatia to one of its locations. At the end of his personal tour, however, nothing was as before, on Sunday evening, in the middle of the subtle relaxation exercises in the tennis industry, the news burst that the 29-year-old star player had been tested positive for the corovirus Covid-19.
Dimitrov made his infection public, he was seen on a hospital bed, now in his adopted home Monaco. He was wearing a mask, he looked attacked, and he sounded sheepishly with the message that he was sorry for the damage he had done. The statement ended with the words: “Stay safe and sound.” Hardly published, however, Dimitrov's Saturday-stage fight opponent Borna Coric (Croatia) also spoke with a congruent dispatch, with a positive test and good wishes for the rest of the world.
The Dimitrov case is also a Djokovic case
A week earlier, however, there had been no trace of reason and consideration, of acting responsibly. Because the severely affected Dimitrov was just one of many industry giants that had gathered at Novak Djokovic's Adria Tour in Belgrade. Ghostly, strange scenes could be seen there in the "Lafayette" club, a wild party night with number one man and tour organizer Djokovic ahead, with Austria's front man Dominic Thiem , with Germany's ace Alexander Zverev . And with the very same Dimitrov who now had the dubious honor of being the first well-known player in world tennis to be tested. Especially the Dimitrov case - he was also a Djokovic case. A major loss event for tennis in general. And for the intentions of the industry to slowly but surely reestablish themselves with tournaments to a limited extent.
Djokovic, the man behind the Adria Tour, had countered the criticism of his show tournament a few days ago with the remark that those concerned "in the West" simply did not know exactly the situation in some countries. With his event, he then pretended a perfect normal world that could not have existed - crowded bleachers, handshakes between those involved, hugs at any time. Ball children, who handed the sweaty towels as usual. Towels thrown into the crowd after the matches. And also parties where the night was danced with a bare torso, just as if Ischgl and the aftermath never existed.
Kiki Bertens is horrified
While the organization team on the Adria Tour canceled the final game scheduled for Sunday in Zadar, Croatia, and called on all those who had been in Dimitrov's vicinity for more than ten minutes for a virus test, Djokovic was able to look at a personal pile of fragments from the pandemic period. The fact that the 33-year-old champion had brought together players from all over the world for his exhibition tour without a really responsible hygiene and safety concept was only the last mistake of the world number one. His pseudoscientific statements in a video podcast had previously caused a shake of the head, according to which contaminated water could be cleaned with pure thought. In addition, the Serb had unmistakably come out as an opponent of vaccination.
When looking at the latest pictures of Djokovic's Adria Tour and the party excesses, the Dutch professional player Kiki Bertens had asked in horror: "What planet does he actually live on?" Possibly on a planet on which he himself believes to set the rules - on Monday at least It was also known that Djokovic did not want to be tested in Zadar, Croatia, immediately after Dimitrov's infection became known. Supposedly on the grounds that he feels "no symptoms."
The virus can easily move across borders
A meticulous tracing of the possible infected around Dimitrov meanwhile seemed illusory. Ball children, tournament staff, referees, plus thousands of spectators - nobody had kept their distance in Belgrade, hardly anyone had worn masks. The virus seemed to have stopped at the border with Serbia, and yet it was suddenly there with one of the main participants, the Bulgarian ex-world champion. Which also showed the crux for the tennis world, for international sport - because with every trip, with every movement across borders, the - sometimes asymptomatic - virus was able to move effortlessly.
For the time being, there were only tournaments without crowds, tournaments such as the planned Grand Slam games from New York with drastic regulations and massive hygiene regulations. Tournament procedures, against which number one man Djokovic initially vehemently resisted and announced that participation would not be an option for him. He even called the plans in the Big Apple “extreme”. The consequences of his Adriatic tour could now become extreme, with a potentially larger infection. The statement that the organizers of the event had on Sunday evening sounded somewhat cynical. In connection with the cancellation of the final, it said: "The health of all participants and guests comes first for us."