Zverev tested negative, Hordorff upset with Djokovic
While Alexander Zverev has announced his negative test for SARS-CoV-2 on social media, Dirk Hordorff, Vice President of the DTB, is annoyed about the world number one Novak Djokovic .
by SID / red
last edit: Jun 22, 2020, 05:08 pm
Tennis official Dirk Hordorff accuses industry leader Novak Djokovic of neglecting his role model function during the controversial Adriatic tour. "How should I explain to a young person that he should keep his distance and wash his hands when Djokovic Ringelpiez plays with hands? That is a catastrophic picture," said Hordorff, Vice President of the German Tennis Federation (DTB), the SID.
The show tour co-organized by Djokovic had already caused criticism in Belgrade for lack of hygiene rules. At the second station in Zadar / Croatia, two positive corona cases in the field of participants were announced by Monday noon.
Cilic like Zverev in home quarantine
Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) and Borna Coric (Croatia) informed the public about the social networks. Alexander Zverev said that his team and he had been tested negatively. He said he would self-isolate according to the doctors' guidelines and would "deeply apologize" to anyone who might have put him at risk.
Marin Cilic, who was just inferior at the start in Zadar and in the evening game on Saturday Zverev, also announced a negative test result. However, the 2014 US Open champion said that he wanted to voluntarily quarantine for a period of two weeks. Alexander Zverev announced a similar move.
More problems in Florida than in New York
"It's not just about the players, there were 100 young people in contact with them," said Hordorff. The long-time professional coach had already expressed his criticism of the external impact of the tour before the positive cases, now he said: "If there are hardly any rules and everything is proudly shown on video, then I am stunned." Especially an exuberant and well documented party with Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and other players had caused outrage. The lack of caution in general "provoked the cases," said Hordorff.
However, Hordorff does not expect any effects on the tour restart and the US Open (August 31 to September 13) planned under strict hygiene regulations. "New York and Belgrade are far apart," he said, "maybe there will be some conceptual changes, but there will be more problems with Florida." Corona infections are currently piling up in the Sunshine State. In Florida, the National Basketball Association (NBA) games are to be played through in a process lasting several months.