Hugs, slaps and little distance on Djokovic's tour

The number one in world tennis, Novak Djokovic, He received with hugs and handshakes the stars of the racket who participate in his charity tournament, which started this Friday in Belgrade in a stadium in which the public did not respect the safety distance planned by the organization.

Djokovic offered a press conference with Austrian Dominic Thiem (world number 3), German Alexander Zverev (7) and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (19), which ended with the four players grabbing each other by the waist for a photo pose. Sources from the organization of the Adria Tour, as the tournament is called, told Efe that the Four players have been tested and all have tested negative for coronavirus.

Already in recent days, the Serbian player posted videos on social networks in which he was seen receiving with hugs and clashes of hands to his colleagues by profession at Belgrade airport.

No restrictions…

Serbia lifted restrictions on entry to the country last May and does not require negative COVID tests or quarantine for those arriving from abroad. It also allows meetings in open spaces and the presence of public in the stadiums, no capacity limit, as long as the safety distance of one meter is kept between spectators. In Serbia they have been detected so far 2,175 cases of contagion of coronaviruses and 252 deaths.

… and without distance

Although the organization indicates that only 40% of the 4,800 tickets have been put on sale from the stadium where the tournament opened this Friday, Efe could verify that, in general, the distance meter rule was not respected.

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The use of masks is not mandatory

“I am very happy, very happy, to be able to receive you in Belgrade,” Djokovic said in remarks to the many journalists who filled the room where the press conference was held. The tennis player indicated that the protection measures against the pandemic are different in different parts of the world and showed his confidence that tennis competitions can be resumed soon.

Recover the rhythm

Thiem, Zverev and Dimitrov considered Djokovic's idea of ​​organizing the tournament with “very good” players who are in the top 30 in the world, and they look forward to competing with each other for the next few days.

In addition to raising funds for various NGOs, the turner intends to serve to help players regain form after three months of competitive stoppage due to the pandemic. The 'Adria Tour' started last Friday with a exhibition match between Olga Danilovic and Nenad Zimonjic with Djokovic himself and Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, old number one, and for which this game has meant his return to the field after three years, and his first victory. Djokovic and Jankovic hugged each other warmly on the court to celebrate a point.

Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia

Djokovic, Austrian Thiem, German Zverev, Bulgarian Dimitrov and Serbs Dusan Lajovic (23), Filip Krajinovic (32) and Viktor Troicki (184) will cross this weekend, as well as the winner of a previous tournament of the Serbian Tennis Federation. The tournament, on clay, is played according to the “Round Robin” system, of all against all, in two groups of four players each, and the final will be played between the best two.

Headquarters

The tournament will then continue in the Croatian city of Zadar (on the 20th and 21st) and is expected to continue later in Montenegro (days 27 and 28) and Banja Luka (Bosnia) on July 3 and 4, until concluding on July 5 in Sarajevo.