Not surprising to see Djokovic test
positive for COVID-19, says Murray
Send a link to a friend
[June 24, 2020]
LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray
criticised world number one Novak Djokovic for staging the Adria
Tour exhibition tournament without adopting any COVID-19 precautions
after the Serbian and three other players tested positive for the
novel coronavirus.
Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki also returned
positive tests after playing in the Balkan tournament where players
were seen hugging at the net, playing basketball, posing for
pictures and partying like they did in pre-COVID-19 days.
Murray said he hoped the players and their family members who tested
positive recovered soon and added that the tournament should not
have gone ahead in hindsight.
"Obviously it's not surprising how many players have tested positive
when you see the scenes and the images and the videos from the
tournament and the players party with no social distancing in
place," Murray said on Tuesday.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Jun/24/images/ads/current/rohlfs_lda_072017.png)
"I've seen some people say this puts the U.S. Open in doubt but the
measures and the protocols they have in place are completely
different to what was going on in Serbia and Croatia.
"For a start, there will be no fans and the players will now know we
can all be affected by this, it doesn't matter who you are, we need
to respect the rules."
The players, however, did not break any government protocols in
Serbia or Croatia with both countries easing lockdown measures weeks
before the event.
On Tuesday Murray enjoyed a winning return to action as he beat Liam
Broady in the 'Battle of the Brits' charity tournament at the
national tennis centre in west London.
The twice Wimbledon champion and former world number one eased to a
6-2 6-2 victory over the British number six in his first competitive
match since the Davis Cup Finals in November.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/062420PIX/sports57.jpg)
Britain's Andy Murray reacts during his match against Netherlands'
Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
The week-long event, organised by Murray's brother Jamie while
professional tennis remains suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
is being played behind closed doors with strict health protocols in
place.
While there were chair umpires, players picked up their own balls
and towels and they did not change ends. The event is raising money
for Britain's National Health Service.
There were also wins in London for British number one Dan Evans and
Kyle Edmund on the opening day.
Murray will face Edmund in his next round-robin match.
"It was OK, I served well throughout the match. Didn't hit the ball
that well from the back of the court, wasn't timing the ball well,"
he said.
"But it was okay. For a first match in seven months and not been
practising much, so it was alright."
"Last time I picked up my own balls was when I was about 17.
Although we do it all the time in practice."
The ATP Tour was halted in early March as nations closed borders and
imposed lockdowns to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Last week the ATP and the women's WTA issued revised calendars for
the resumption of the circuit from August.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman in London, additional reporting by
Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Jun/24/images/ads/current/contractorsreadymix_sda_HG_2020.png) |