Coric is latest player to test positive

The list of individuals from the Adria Tour infected by the Covid-19 virus grows with Borna Coric, the current world No.33, becoming the second player following Grigor Dimitrov’s Sunday announcement, to test positive for coronavirus after taking part in the Croatian leg of Novak Djokovic’s exhibition tour.

I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during the last few days gets tested! Borna Coric

No doubt of concern for Djokovic is his fitness coach Marko Paniki and another member of Dimitrov’s team, his coach Chris Gro, have also tested positive for the virus according to Croatia’s N1 television channel.

Croatia’s Coric had beaten Dimitrov in the second leg of the exhibition tour being held in Zadar last Saturday with the Bulgarian immediately departing for home in Monaco as he felt unwell.

“Hi everyone, I wanted to inform you all that I tested positive for Covid-19,” Coric posted on Twitter today.
“I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during the last few days gets tested!

“I am really sorry for any harm I might have caused! I’m feeling well and don’t have any simptoms (sic). Please stay safe and healthy! Lots of love to all!”

Needless to say, the criticisms which has been levelled at the tour’s lack of social distancing is proving to be justified with Nick Kyrgios now adding his own views on the subject describing the tour as being
‘boneheaded’.

The world No. 40 from Australia tweeted: “Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’,” he tweeted.
“Speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE.”

Also playing in the tournament were world No 3 Dominic Thiem, former US Open winner Marin Cilic, seventh-ranked Alexander Zverev and Filip Krajinovic.

Djokovic’s brother Djordje, the tournament director, defended the organisers actions by telling Sportske Novosti: “Novak? He took this news very hard. We undertook all the measures prescribed by the governments of Serbia and Croatia.”

But they were obviously not sufficient as the Montenegro and third leg of the tour, with stricter controls in place, decided against holding their event and cancelled on the eve of the tours first offering in Belgrade.
The final leg at present is in Bosnia.

Commenting on social distancing measures during the inaugural leg in Belgrade, Djokovic pointed out that both Serbia and the region had been relatively successful in containing the virus.

“Of course you can criticise, you can also say this is dangerous or not, but it’s not up to me to make the calls what is health-wise right or wrong,” the Serbian hero told reporters.

While the countries have not been particularly hit by coronavirus, the lax approach to social distancing has backfired with Dimitrov and Coric – who played each other at the weekend – both now succumbing to the virus.

Djokovic did not show any symptoms at the weekend but refused to be tested in Croatia preferring to contact an epidemiologist and his doctor on his return to Serbia.

Could he be joining the list?