Herwig Straka, representative of world tennis number 3, Austrian Dominic Thiem, has attacked Novak Djokovic hard for the series of positives for coronavirus in the framework of the so-called “Adria Tour”, a charity tournament organized by the Serb, number one in the world. In statements published this Thursday by the Viennese newspaper Der Standard, Straka points to the Serb as the main “culprit” and claims that the Belgrade event “went in the wrong direction and was absurd as a relationship event. Djokovic is to blame for that.”
“As president of the tennis players, (Djokovic) did not fulfill his role. From the point of view of the ATP this was a totally unnecessary event”, added the representative of Thiem, who at the same time defended the performance of his own player in the controversial event. “What should I apologize for. For having played there? The other players were excused because they tested positive.”, Straka highlights, referring to the Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, the Croatian Borna Coric and Djokovic himself.
In any case, Straka recognized that “In hindsight it was clear that was nonsense. Even if it was allowed. Everyone knows it was stupid., no apology can fix it. ” “The only one who should ask for forgiveness is Djokovic because he has staged everything. The others were only there, they have not killed anyone”Thiem's representative said.
“None of those who participated there fulfilled their role as an example (for society). That is sad and true”Straka admitted, referring even to his own player. Thiem, who until now has not spoken publicly about what happened on the Adria Tour, has given three times negative by coronavirus after winning the Belgrade contest on June 14.
Thiem apologizes for the Adria Tour
Dominic Thiem, number three in world tennis, asked this Thursday for forgiveness for having participated without health precautions in the controversial “Adria Tour”, where at least four tennis players and four other related persons tested positive for coronavirus due to the lack of social distancing. In a message posted on his account of the social network Instagram, the Austrian tennis player says that he felt “shocked” when he received the news of positive tests from players like Novak Djokovic, number one in the world and organizer of the event, of the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (19) and the Croatian Borna Coric (33).
“We played without an audience for weeks, so we were more than happy with the fans in this competition. We trusted the rules against the Serbian government coronavirus but we were too optimistic,” recognized in the message. “Our behavior was a mistake, we acted too euphorically. I am very sorry. I have been tested five times since then and the result has always been negative,” said number 3 in the world.
“I wish all those who were infected all the best and a speedy recovery”, concluded Thiem's message, which avoids blaming anyone for what happened. Different is the opinion of his representative, Herwig Straka, who blamed Djokovic directly and solely.
In statements published this Thursday by the Viennese newspaper Der Standard, Thiem's manager pointed to the Serb as the main “culprit” and assures that the event in Belgrade “It went in the wrong direction and was absurd as a relationship competition. Djokovic is to blame for that.”. Across Straka he also acknowledged that the other players, including Thiem, did not act correctly.
“None of those who participated there fulfilled their role as an example (for society). That is sad and true”, admitted the representative of number three in the world. The Adria Tour was an invention of Djokovic himself, with a tournament first in Belgrade on June 13/14 and a week later in Zadar (Croatia), which was suspended upon learning of Dimitrov's positive. In no place were the rules for distancing or health prevention against the virus followed.