Djokovic rules out Nadal and Federer on their charity tour

World tennis number one Novak Djokovic has been “excited” about the Adria Tour, the charity tour that will take place soon in four cities in the Balkans, and he has ruled out the participation of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

“I am excited to be able to play in front of my audience and travel around the region. He is humanitarian and all proceeds from sponsorships and television rights will go to charities. My foundation will be among them, “the Serb told reporters in Belgrade.

With professional tennis suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic until at least the end of July, Djokovic has promoted this four-stop tour on clay which will start in Belgrade on June 13 and will be played with sets to four games instead of the usual six.

“The coming world stars will have the option to choose any charity they want. They are going to play for free, because of our relationship and the humanitarian nature of the tour, “explained the Serb.

Alexandar Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov are confirmed to play at least once, but Djokovic revealed that Federer has not been asked for it due to physical problems in his knee. “Rafa (Nadal) recently started playing, but I haven't asked him. Maybe I will ask him, but I don't expect him to come”, he pointed out regarding Spanish.

“I did not publish how I trained myself not to cause anger”

The “Adria Tour” tournament will start in Serbia (June 13 and 14), will continue in Croatia (in the Croatian Adriatic city of Zadar, 20 and 21), Montenegro (27 and 28), and will conclude in Bosnia-Herzegovina (Banja Luka, on July 3 and 4, and Sarajevo, on July 5).

“Unlike many I have had the opportunity to train almost every day because I was in a house that has a court. But I have not published it on the networks so as not to cause the anger of some, “said Djokovic at a press conference in Belgrade.” I have trained on hard ground and lately on clay. I feel good, I have been active. Of course, the intensity has been less because I don't know when the competitions will start, “he said, and He added that he takes the tournament he organizes “seriously”.

It is still unknown if the tournaments will be played before the public, depending on the epidemiological situation in the countries where it will take place. The tournament aims to raise funds for different humanitarian projects in the region and at the same time help tennis players regain form and a competitive rhythm, having been cut off from the field by the coronavirus pandemic. “Adria Tour” will be played on clay, since most of the courts in the region are that, according to Djokovic. The series of tournaments will be played according to the “Round Robin” system, all against all, in two groups of four players each, and the finals will be played between the best two. Djokovic will play in all tournaments, as well as possibly Dimitrov, while Thiem and Zverev will participate in some of them.