World No. 1 Novak Djokovic tests positive for coronavirus

TASS, June 23. Serb tennis player and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has contracted coronavirus, his test result came back positive, Reuters reports citing the Djokovic’s statement.

Last week, the Serb was playing Adria Tour, an exhibition tournament organized for a number of players in the Balkan Region. Two other players, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov and Croatia’s Borna Coric also tested positive, while Djokovic’s fitness coach and Dimitrov’s coach also contracted COVID-19. Russian Andrey Rublev was also competing in the same tournament, he was meant to face Djokovic in the final.

"We organized 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," Djokovic said in the statement. "Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region."

"I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s health situation and that everyone will be fine. I will remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days, and repeat the test in five days," the Serb apologized.

Apart from Djokovic himself who left for Belgrade immediately after the tournament came to an abrupt end, his wife Jelena also tested positive for coronavirus, while their kids tested negative.

Shortly before Adria Tour began, the tennis player attended an exhibition basketball match in Belgrade. After the match, the new broke out that Partizan club player Nikola Jankovic contracted the virus.

Djokovic is reigning world No. 1 in the rankings and has won 79 ATP titles in his career. Djokovic is a 17-time Grand Slam champion winning all four of them at least once. He won the Australian Open eight times (with a perfect record of winning all eight finals that he reached at the tournament), five Wimbledon titles, three US Open titles and the French Open once. Djokovic also won bronze at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Source: TASS