Novak Djokovic has been stormed by criticism in recent weeks for organizing the Adria Tour, a charity show in which the rules on social distancing have not been respected. Numerous colleagues and insiders believe that the 17-time Grand Slam champion should step down as president of the ATP Players Council.
In an interview with Nova TV, as reported by BLICK, the famous epidemiologist Zoran Radovanovic came to defend world no. 1.
Radovanovic on Novak Djokovic
“It proved naive that he trusted the state,” said Zoran Radovanovic.
“Before the tournament, Djokovic was sure that the crown’s situation was under control. He could not imagine that our authorities would have deceived him. He acted on the advice of experts and authorities and deceived him.
You wanted to score politically through Novak Djokovic and you didn’t think you could endanger other players and the public, “said the epidemiologist.” Djokovic is our brand. One of the few positive phenomena for which Serbia is always recognized in the world.
He is an intelligent young man and would never have ventured on such an adventure if he had not been deceived, “added Radovanovic. Djokovic of world No. 1, Serbian colleague Viktor Troicki, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Croatian Borna Coric are all positive for virus and event had to be canceled.
Tennis stars slammed the event in Croatia with Nick Kyrgios calling it a “stunned decision” to participate in the show. It has received widespread reprimand as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and the world tries to stop its spread.
“I can only see the criticisms lately and many of them are harmful,” Djokovic told Serbian Sportski Zurnal on Wednesday, via CBS Sports. “Obviously it’s more than just a critique, it’s like it’s a program and a witch hunt.
Someone has to take the fall, a big name. “Djokovic told the newspaper his” pure intention “to organize a humanitarian event in the Balkan region.” We have complied with all laws and regulations. But we learned our lessons and some things could probably have been done differently. “
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises on social distancing and provides guidance on how to wear a mask in public areas. The first leg to Belgrade took place on 13 and 14 June with no social distancing rules in place, attracted a crowd of 4,000 exhausted people and as many fans showed up in the Zadar Visnjik tennis complex with a capacity of 9,000 a week later.
The Croatian government has ordered Zadar fans to stay two meters away, but the final, due to the film Djokovic and Russian Andrey Rublev, was canceled after Dimitrov tested positive for the virus.
