Dimitrov tests positive for COVID-19 after tennis tournament

BELGRADE: Tennis player Grigor Dimitrov has apologised after revealing he has tested positive for coronavirus after playing a tournament.

Grigor Dimitrov shared an Instagram just 30 minutes before the final of the second leg of the Adria Tour between Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev. He had his face covered with a mask as he announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

“I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for COVID-19,” reads his statement. “I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions. I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering.”

Dimitrov has been in contact with over the past week with Djokovic, Rublev, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev respectively along with other players.

The group of players met at the Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 12 for the first leg of the regional Adria Tour, a charity event created by the Djokovic.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Hi Everyone-I want to reach out and let my fans and friends know that I tested positive back in Monaco for Covid-19. I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during these past days gets tested and takes the necessary precautions. I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused. I am back home now and recovering. Thanks for your support and please stay safe and healthy. GD

A post shared by Grigor Dimitrov (@grigordimitrov) on Jun 21, 2020 at 10:36am PDT

The event has received criticism over the fact that there appears to be no such precautions in place in terms of social distancing, as players were seen hugging, and the stadium was filled to capacity with not many wearing masks in the stands.

“I know there has been some criticism, especially from the West,” the world no 1 told a sports outlet. “It is not easy to explain to people that the situation in the United States or Great Britain is completely different from that in Serbia or the surrounding countries.”

“We followed the rules and measures laid down by the government and public health institutions from day one. We didn’t cross the line. We went through all these processes, and the overall result was fantastic,” he said.

The 29-year-old Bulgarian reportedly pulled out of the second leg of the event in Zadar, Croatia after losing 4-1, 4-1 to Borna Coric on Saturday.

Dimitrov becomes only the second tennis player to have tested positive for the coronavirus after Thiago Seyboth Wild contracted the virus shortly after winning his first ever ATP title Chile Open in March.