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4 year oldThe tennis world was stunned when images and videos emerged of Novak Djokovic’s exhibition tennis tournament two weekends ago — and with good reason.
They showed a complete lack of social distancing and no regard for medical advice around stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Players hugged, high-fived and mingled at promotional events while there were no restrictions placed on fans, who were allowed to flood into stadiums and sit next to each other in crowded stands.
Clips also came out of Djokovic and Co. dancing topless while partying in a Belgrade nightclub.
Djokovic has now admitted he was wrong to proceed with the Adria Tour after he became the fourth player who competed to test positive to coronavirus.
The men’s world No. 1 confirmed overnight he and wife Jelena had both tested positive after fellow stars Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki also contracted the disease.
When the Adria Tour was launched, Djokovic defended his pet project.
“We have different circumstances and measures so it’s very difficult to think of international standards,” he said, adding Serbia had “better numbers” compared to other countries when it came to the global pandemic.
“You can also criticise us and say this is maybe dangerous but it’s not up to me to make the calls about what is right or wrong for health.
“We are doing what the Serbian Government is telling us and hopefully we soon will get back on tour collectively.
“Of course, lives have been lost and that’s horrible to see, in the region and worldwide. But life goes on, and we as athletes are looking forward to competing.”
RELATED: Djokovic’s grim admission after testing positive
RELATED: Tennis partygoers slammed as virus spreads
Those words have blown up in Djokovic’s face.
While the Adria Tour didn’t break any government regulations because Serbia had loosened restrictions considerably, even allowing a crowd of 20,000 to watch a football match before the tournament kicked off, people were still being urged by health officials to socially distance from one another.
As you can see from the photos below, clearly that didn’t happen.
CHECK OUT FOOTAGE OF DJOKOVIC AND CO. PARTYING IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
When the Adria Tour launched two weekends ago, tennis commentator Nick McCarvel said on Twitter the images he was seeing were “shocking”.
“Actually can’t believe what I’m seeing,” he wrote.
Aussie star Nick Kyrgios lashed the “stupidity” behind the “boneheaded” decision to go ahead with the tournament while British tennis players Andy Murray and Dan Evans also hit out.
“I don’t think he (Djokovic) should be having a players’ party and dancing all over each other,” Evans said before the Serbian’s positive test was confirmed.
“He should feel some responsibility in his event and how it’s transpired, really.
“It’s very unfortunate that Grigor has it and Coric has it but you strip it back, is it a surprise? I think that’s the question we should all ask.”
Two-time Wimbledon champion Murray added: “In hindsight with what’s happened there it is not a good look.
“When you are going through a time like this it’s important any of the top athletes around the world should be showing that we are taking this extremely seriously and knowing that we are using social distancing measures and whatever it is.
“I hope that we learn from it and off the back of it they will be taking it extremely seriously because ultimately the tour won’t get back again if we are having problems every single week and the players are doing what they want. We need to make sure we are doing the right thing.”
RELATED: Kyrgios lashes Djoker’s ‘stupidity’
The Djokovic team have won the exhibition doubles, 6-4. pic.twitter.com/UsbsNeKJtu
— Del?? (@Stroppa_Del) June 12, 2020
Party at Novak Djokovic’s tennis tournament where at least eight people, including Djokovic and his wife, have tested now positive for Covid-19 (via @Janosikgarciaz) pic.twitter.com/czjjKwXoi9
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 23, 2020
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