Anti-Vaxxer tennis star Novak Djokovic says he's 'so deeply sorry for harm caused' by his Adria tournament after he and fellow players partied and ignored social distancing advice - and he and his wife test positive for coronavirus
Novak Djokovic issued an apology on Tuesday night for the conduct of his Adria Tour fiasco after becoming a victim himself by testing positive for coronavirus.
The world No 1, who organised the event, where social distancing was widely ignored, softened an earlier statement in which he had shown little remorse for what transpired.
'I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm,' said Djokovic, who does not have symptoms. 'Everything the organisers and I did the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions.
Novak Djokovic, tennis's world No 1, has tested positive for coronavirus after hosting two events where there was a near total lack of social distancing measures
Djokovic and fellow tennis stars partied in a Belgrade nightclub on Sunday night, with some of the players taking their shirts off during the riotous evening
Djokovic (left centre) was joined by the likes of Alex Zverev and Dominic Thiem throughout the evening following the completion of the Adria Tour event
'We believed that the tournament met all health protocols and the health of our region seemed in good condition to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons.
'We were wrong and it was too soon. I can't express how sorry I am for this and every case of infection.'
Among the images which emerged from the events in Serbia and Croatia were those of him and other players dancing half-naked together in a Belgrade nightclub.
Djokovic confirmed that his wife Jelena had also tested positive and said the pair would remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days and repeat the test in five days.
'If you attended Adria Tour or were around any attendees please get tested and practise social distancing,' added Djokovic. 'For those in Belgrade and Zadar, we will be sharing health resources in the immediate future.
'The rest of the tournament has been cancelled and we will remain focused on all those who have been affected. I pray for everyone's full recovery.'
Jamie Murray pledged that his British tournament this week would be conducted in the safest way possible, in contrasting fashion.
Murray is promoting the 'Battle of the Brits' at Roehampton, which began on Tuesday, and he assured that health will be paramount with strict anti-Covid protocols in place.
'They have not covered themselves in glory but that makes no difference to our event in terms of whether people are going to be safe or not,' said Murray of the now abandoned Balkan series.
'It's obviously not a great look for tennis but that is totally different from what we are doing here.'
Djokovic became the sixth direct participant in his exhibition series to catch the disease.
It comes after two events, in Belgrade and Zadar, where there was a near total lack of social distancing measures, with players repeatedly getting up close in everything from fun football kickabouts to escapades in nightclubs.
Other players who have tested positive are Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki. There have also been positive tests for Djokovic's fitness trainer Marco Panichi and Dimitrov's coach Christian Groh.
The highest profile player of them all tested positive after he returned to Belgrade, having declined to be tested with everyone else at the second event in Croatia.
Tell-tale symptoms of the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, include a cough, fever and losing the senses of smell and taste. Some patients suffer diarrhoea and other more unusual symptoms.
More than 8.5million people have been struck down with Covid-19 since the virus was first spotted in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December. More than 450,000 infected patients have died.
Scientists have yet to find a cure for the disease and the global race against time to make a vaccine that will save millions of lives continues, with human trials of several jabs now well underway.
Djokovic's wife Jelena has also tested positive, although their children have not.
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.
'The moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested,' Djokovic said, before going on to state his good intentions in arranging the exhibition series.
'Everything we did in in the past month we did with a pure heart. Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.
'It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this.
'We organised the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the tour had been met.
'Unfortunately this virus is still present and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.'
There was a hint of contrition at the end of his statement, although he did not address the conduct of the matches – which resembled an ordinary ATP event – nor the extra curricular activities.
Throughout there appears to have been an intention to cock a snook at the virus, with players clambering all over each other in games of football and basketball, and also with close contact at promotional events.
'I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection,' said Djokovic. 'I hope that it will not complicate anyone's health situation and that everyone will be fine.'
Novak Djokovic tweeted on Tuesday evening that he was 'deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm' while announcing he and his wife Jelena had tested positive for covid-19
The message posted to Djokovic's Twitter urged anyone who attended the Adria Tour to get tested for coronavirus and social distance
With the main attraction now resolving to go into isolation, the rest of the Adria Tour has been cancelled.
Djokovic has made two major charitable donations to the fight against the novel coronavirus, to Serbian health authorities and those in the stricken Lombardy region of Italy.
However the rest of his conduct has been deeply controversial to the point of reckless, and many in the game feel his conduct ought to see him stand down from the position of President of the ATP Player Council.
Almost one year on from his greatest Wimbledon triumph, when he beat Roger Federer 13-12 in the fifth set, his standing has plummeted, and it will be fascinating to see how it affects his career going forward, as he has always been sensitive about being less popular than Federer or Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic hosted a Facebook Live event back in April and revealed he is against having vaccinations.
'Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn't want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,' Djokovic said.
'But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision.
'I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don't know.
'Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet.'
Djokovic has also come in for criticism from players across tennis, with Nick Kyrgios labelling the decision to push on with the tournament as 'boneheaded' on Monday.
He had even more to say on Tuesday once he learned of Djokovic's diagnosis.
Alongside a video of some of the players partying in a nightclub, Kyrgios wrote: 'Prayers up to all the players that have contracted Covid-19. Don't @ me for anything I've done that has been 'irresponsible' or classified as 'stupidity' - this takes the cake.'
Despite no social distancing the party broke no Serbian laws in relation to the coronavirus
Djokovic pictured alongside his wife Jelena, who has also tested positive for coronavirus - she has previously had a 'false information' badge attached to one of her Instagram posts after sharing a clip that suggested the spread of coronavirus is linked to 5G technology
Djokovic was also pictured grappling with Grigor Dimitrov during a game of basketball while they were competing in his event - both players have now tested positive for Covid-19
Djokovic posted the above picture of the tennis stars having a kickabout earlier in the event - another example of how there was minimal attention paid to social distancing
Dimitrov (left), Djokovic and Co showed no consideration for social distancing when they were celebrating scoring goals between their tennis matches on the Adria Tour
Borna Coric (left) and Dimitrov have both tested positive after playing in the competition
Big crowds have attended the Adria Tour amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
Nick Kyrgios labelled the decision to go ahead with the Adria Tour as 'boneheaded' on Monday and had even more to say once he learned Djokovic had contracted Covid-19
Tweeting a video of players from the event partying in a nightclub, Kyrgios said the decision to play amid the pandemic made his previous indiscretions pale by comparison
Andy Murray admitted that Djokovic's staging of the event 'is not a good look' for tennis
British No 1 Dan Evans was also stinging with his words.
'I just think it is a poor example to set,' Evans said. 'Even if the guidelines in that country are not two metres... it is not a joke is it?
'Even if the guidelines were taken away in this country, I would still be trying to keep myself out of the way as much as I could from other people. I just think there has been a total disregard to that.'
Andy Murray was more measured in what he said of Djokovic, his long-term rival.
'I have always had a good relationship with Novak. In hindsight, what's happened there it is not a good look,' he said.
'When you are going through a time like this, it's important any of the top athletes around the world are showing that we are taking this extremely seriously and knowing that we are using social distancing measures.
'Like when I'm getting treatment from my physio, wearing masks and things just to reduce the risk as much as possible.
'Ultimately, the tour won't get back again if we are having problems every single week and the players are doing what they want.'
