The world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has revealed that he has tested positively for COVID-19, shortly after travelling to Croatia to take part in a tournament that he had organised.
Djokovic shared the news on his personal website, where he confirmed that both he and his wife Jelena had received a positive diagnosis of the virus. The pair had taken a test after returning to Belgrade from Zadar in Croatia, where the final of Djokovic’s Adria Tour exhibition had been taking place.
Croatia’s Borna Coric, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov and Viktor Troicki of Serbia have also tested positive, after all three also attended the event.
In a statement, Djokovic said “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…the moment we arrived in Belgrade we went to be tested. My result is positive, just as Jelena’s, while the results of our children are negative.”
While other players had remained in Zadar for testing, Djokovic had left the country as he was not showing symptoms at the time. As a result of his diagnosis he will now stay in isolation for 14 days, and will be tested again after 5 days.
“Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions,” he said. “Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.”
“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.”
Globally, tennis events are still coming to terms with the changes brought about by the pandemic; this year’s U.S. Open will take place with no audience.