Nick Kyrgios has taken aim at Novak Djokovic and co. after the Adria Tour was engulfed in a coronavirus crisis of its own.
Nick Kyrgios says Novak Djokovic and his fellow Adria Tour competitors made a “boneheaded decision” by taking part in the Balkans tournament as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on around the world. Sunday’s final in Zadar, Croatia was cancelled after it emerged Grigor Dimitrov had tested positive for the deadly COVID-19.
Djokovic was meant to play Andrey Rublev in that axed encounter, but they and their rivals were whisked away to be tested at their hotel.
22 people were tested in total, with Eastern European outlet Sport Klub reporting three were confirmed to have contracted coronavirus.
Borna Coric has since announced on Twitter that he tested positive, while Djokovic’s fitness coach Marko Paniki and Dimitrov’s coach Kristijan Groh are said to have been infected too.
Coric tweeted: “Hi everyone, I wanted to inform you all that I tested positive for COVID-19. 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 symptoms! Please stay safe and healthy! Lots of love to all!”
Outspoken tennis star Kyrgios responded to Coric’s tweet, slamming all of those who had taken part in the Adria Tour, a leg of which was staged last week in Belgrade, Serbia.
“(Facepalm emojis) Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the exhibition,” Kyrgios wrote. “Speedy recovery fellas, but thats what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE.”
Djokovic was originally reported to have been tested in Zadar along with his colleagues but Sport Klub claim he will be checked out after he and his family return to Belgrade on Monday.
A statement said: “All three [Coric, Paniki and Groh] will remain in self-isolation in Zadar and will follow all further instructions and recommendations from the competent health institutions.
“They will do a new test in five days, after which they will make further decisions. If the test is negative, they will be able to go home.
“All others, including members of Novak’s team and tennis players, such as [Alexander] Zverev and [Marin] Cilic, are negative and can go home. With a mandatory period of self-isolation.”
Djokovic and co. have received criticism for failing to adhere by social distancing advice which is aimed at stemming the spread of coronavirus.
The Serbian world No 1 played down fears relating to their behaviour, insisting COVID-19 was not as serious a threat as western Europe had experienced.
