Novak Djokovic has tested positive for coronavirus, the world number one tennis player announced in an official statement. Djokovic revealed that his wife Jelena is positive for Covid-19 too.
The couple was tested on their return to Belgrade from Zadar, where Novak played in the tournament that was cancelled after Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov contracted the coronavirus.
Croatia’s Borna Coric and the other Serbian Viktor Troicki have also tested positive after playing in Djokovic’s Adria Tour exhibition tournaments in Belgrade and Zadar.
“I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s health situation and that everyone will be fine," Djokovic said in the statement.
The Serbian tennis star has also confirmed that his children were tested negative, while his and Jelena's tests returned positive for COVID-19.
“Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. Our tournament meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region. The Tour has been designed to help both established and up and coming tennis players from Southeastern Europe to gain access to some competitive tennis while the various tours are on hold due to the COVID-19 situation.
"We organized the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met. Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with. I am hoping things will ease with time so we can all resume lives the way they were," Novak Djokovic said in his statement.
Novak will now remain in self-isolation for the next two weeks, and repeat the test in five days.
