Novak Djokovic’s Coach, Goran Ivanisevic, (Croatia’s former Wimbledon champion) has tested positive for COVID-19 just days after attending an exhibition tournament organised, whom he coaches.
Announcing his COVID-19 status on Instagram, the coach wrote;
Unfortunately after two negative tests in the last two days, I have just found out that I tested positive to Covid-19. I feel good and I don’t have any symptoms. I would like to inform everyone who has been in contact with me that I tested positive and asked them to take extra good care of themselves and their loved ones. I will continue to self-isolate as I have been doing already. I wish everyone who got infected a speedy recovery.
Ivanisevic is part of Djokovic’s coaching team and was the director of the now-canceled Adria Tour where some top players contracted coronavirus.
The event had to be cancelled after one of the players, Grigor Dimitrov, confirmed he tested positive.
Djokovic, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki have all contracted the virus after taking part in the second leg of the event held in Zadar, on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, last week Sunday.
Also, Djokovic’s wife Jelena tested positive after the couple travelled back from Croatia to Belgrade to be tested.
Players reportedly embraced across the net, played basketball and even danced in a nightclub during the first leg played in Belgrade.
Djokovic has since come under attack for hosting the charity tournament, where social distancing was minimal and matches were played in front of thousands of fans.
On Tuesday, the 33-year-old issued an apology for the Adria Tour, saying Jesus is deeply sorry for the harm the tournament has caused.
Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon in 2001, has strongly defended Djokovic over the ill-fated Adria Tour.
Speaking to local media this week, he said;
Everyone is so smart now and many attack Novak, it is rather popular. He tried to make something big, something with a charitable character after we were all locked up for three months.
The coronavirus outbreak among the players has now forced the Davis Cup Finals to be postponed until 2021. The event will now take place in Madrid at the end of November 2021.
