Grigor Dimitrov has tested positive for COVID-19 after playing in two of Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour events over the last…
Dimitrov tests positive for COVID-19
Grigor Dimitrov (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
Grigor Dimitrov has tested positive for COVID-19 after playing in two of Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour events over the last fortnight.
Dimitrov, currently ranked No. 19 in the world, withdrew from the second tournament in Zadar, Croatia on Saturday after feeling unwell following a loss to Borna Coric.
Dimitrov took to social media on Sunday to confirm he had been struck down with COVID-19.
“I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions,” Dimitrov wrote. “I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering.”
Sunday’s final in Zadar – set to feature Djokovic and Andrey Rublev – was abandoned.
The Adria Tour released a statement regarding Dimitrov’s positive test later on Sunday.
“At all times we have strictly followed the epidemiological measures in place with the countries where the Adria Tour was organised.
“None of the people involved in the organisation and who have been in contact with Grigor have any symptoms.
“However, we are in close contact with health authorities in order to insure that all people who were in contact with Grigor will be tested tonight. Since we do not want to risk, we decided to cancel the final match.”
Over the past few days… pic.twitter.com/NPMVgUS0Ve
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) June 21, 2020
The exhibition tournament, established by Djokovic, has come under intense scrutiny for its distinct lack of social distancing since launching in Belgrade, Serbia two weeks ago.
Top players including Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev were seen playing basketball and hugging Dimitrov in Belgrade, while the tournament hosted a party in a nightclub following its completion.
The first leg of the Adria Tour in Belgrade attracted over 4,000 fans, while several thousand were also in attendance in Zadar over the weekend.
Dimitrov opted to fist bump Coric and the umpire following his defeat on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Thiem – who came into contact with Dimitrov in Belgrade – has since travelled to Nice, France in order to compete in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown alongside the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas, David Goffin and Matteo Berrettini.
The Austrian has revealed he has been tested and the results have come back negative.
News of Dimitrov’s positive test comes less than a week after the US Open announced it planned to move forward with their Grand Slam as originally scheduled – but under strict social distancing guidelines.
Djokovic has previously described the guidelines as ‘extreme’ and has come under fire from lower-ranked players for the way he has led the tour as President of the ATP Player Council during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All forms of professional tennis has been suspended since March, with the first official tournament back set to be the WTA International event in Palermo, Italy on August 3.
