In the middle of the global pandemic, the world's no. 1 tennis player, Novak Djokovic, decided to organize a tennis tournament known as Adria Tour as a charity. The Adria Tour was to be held from June 13, 2020, for about a month until July 5, 2020, and its venues spanned across 3 countries - Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This tour had a set of exhibition matches and the biggest collection of star tennis players.
However, the event came crashing down as top-ranked Novak Djokovic and his wife were tested positive for Covid-19 along with his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, and other players such as Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Ćorić and Victor Troicki. The tournament was called off on June 23.
"Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions," said Djokovic apologizing after he was announced sick. "Our tournament was meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region."
Although it is said that safety measures were taken, the protocols were not followed strictly by the players. Hence, it led to this unfortunate event where huge crowds had gathered in the middle of a pandemic, and all the efforts of staying in lockdown for the past months had gone in vain. Djokovic's statement in his defence read that holding the tournament had not broken any rules since the Serbian Government had already lifted the ban on public gatherings, and had asked the people to remain about three feet apart.
Djokovic has said that he is "extremely sorry for every case of infection," since the abortive Adria Tournament. However, the star tennis player’s dad blamed Dimitrov for spreading the virus amongst the others in the tournament.
Djokovic has been facing criticism from all over the world and his reputation seems to be threatened as his folly is considered a lesson to the world. As the Adria Tour proceeded without people seriously following social distancing or wearing face masks, it proved to be a fuel to further spread of the virus. A video showing Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, and Alexander Zverev dancing shirtless in a nightclub in Belgrade, the first city of the tour supported the fact that they were neglecting the Covid-19 protocols. Nick Kyrgios said that the tennis world was 'pissing him off'.
These actions revived his past beliefs and all the times he did as he pleased. It has been said that he was known for taking far too many injury breaks, especially in matches where he seemed to be losing. Many such incidents had been noted in his previous matches in Grand Slams, Wimbledon, and more. In May, when he was staying in Spain, he was found practising at a tennis club breaking the local breakdown rules and now Djokovic has found himself defending the lax arrangements of his exhibitions, which were meant to raise money to help those affected by the pandemic. Despite the intentions, the stands were packed, and the players casually interacted with fans and each other off the court.
After facing heavy criticism, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić defended the tennis star by taking the blame.
In response to the public criticism that has come Djokovic's way, the Prime Minister of Serbia said, "It is the easiest and most beautiful thing for me if they could shift the blame on me personally as the Prime Minister. If people would leave Novak Djokovic alone, I would love it the most in the world." Brnabić in an interview with PinkTV continued "It's our fault, we eased the safety measures. If we had not, there would've been no tournament. The worst thing is that you will have 1,001 kibitzers who will criticize what Novak Djokovic did from the comforts of their home."
Filip Krajinovic also in support of Djokovic said that "Novak Djokovic did not have any financial gain" through this tournament. “I am sure that he will be even stronger when all this is over and that he will show on the field who he is and what he is. He just wished everyone well, he did not have any financial gain. He wanted to unite people, for us all to get better somehow. I’m very sorry that some unimportant people allowed themselves to spit on him.”
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