Tennis can be safe: the antithesis of Djokovic's Tour

The disaster caused by the reckless Adria Tour, Novak Djokovic's tour from which eight positives came out on COVID-19 and some more indirect but related to the presence of the Serbian in other events, such as that of his NBA compatriot Nikola Jokic, is actually a sad exception in the return of tennis. In most cases it is practiced with safety and respect for sanitary regulations.

The Academy that Patrick Mouratoglou has in Nice is running the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, an innovative league that takes place without an audience, with masks in common areas, pre-player tests and regular monitoring. Stars like Tsitsipas, Berrettini, Fognini and Feliciano López face each other with respect for social distance, without hugs or effusive greetings (rackets collide), the antithesis of what was seen in Belgrade and Zadar. There is also Thiem, who participated in Djokovic's grotesque and passed a check on arrival that was negative.

In London top British racquets such as Murray, Jaimie and Andy, Evans and Edmund are measured at Schroders Battle of the Brits, an exhibition event that also complies with anti-virus measures. “All players will now be extremely aware that we may be affected by this. The coronavirus doesn't care who we are or what we do and we must respect it, ”said Andy Murray.

Italy celebrates its national championship with an audience, but with a limited capacity and masks. “You have to use them,” said Gaio (130th in the ranking), who stoked Djokovic. “Number one did not set an example, we must set it and respect the rules.” But the most striking thing is that a tournament organized by Janko Tipsarevic, the Eastern European Champiosnhip, is played in Belgrade., diametrically opposed to the Adria Tour: without spectators, unique hotel, official cars for the players and few personnel on the track. “Our colleagues in China taught us that the situation was serious.” Tennis is clear … except for Djokovic.