[imagesource: AFP via Getty Images]

If you’ve been keeping an eye on tennis ace Novak Djokovic these past few months, you’ll know that the Serbian has been touting some really outlandish medical advice.

He initially made it known that he was against any vaccine for COVID-19, before backtracking somewhat, and then later hosted an Instagram Live chat with controversial figure Chervin Jafarieh, where Novak spoke about how humans can change the molecular composition of water with their emotions.

In short, he said you can purify water with your mind.

Clearly, he’s not an authority on, or a believer in, basic science, and now he’s been widely criticised for setting up the Adria Tour, as a way of reintroducing tennis to the Balkans.

That’s a noble cause, but the wheels are now coming off as players and officials test positive for the coronavirus. Below from the Telegraph:

A second high-profile player – world No 33 Borna Coric – has revealed that he tested positive on Sunday night, while other reports suggest that Grigor Dimitrov’s coach and Novak Djokovic’s fitness trainer did too.

Meanwhile Djokovic’s representatives have confirmed that – as of Monday morning – he has yet to undergo a test. On Sunday night, all the other players and support staff reported for testing to the official event hotel in the Croatian city of Zadar. But Djokovic returned to Belgrade.

According to one Croatian report – which was described as accurate by a member of Djokovic’s team – he “decided not to be tested on the spot, because he does not feel any symptoms, nor anyone from his environment, including the professional staff”.

That’s not how it works, Novak.

The final was due to be played between Andrey Rublev and Djokovic, but was called off. When Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic, was faced with boos from the crowd following the announcement, he said “I don’t know why you are booing me. I’m not the one who is positive for COVID-19.”

Well, you can’t test positive if you refuse to be tested, Goran.

Grigor Dimitrov was the first big-name player to test positive, which led to the cancellation.

The outbreak comes as no surprise after what has been a few weeks of flouting basic safety measures. The always outspoken Nick Kyrgios didn’t hold back on Twitter:

Fellow professional tennis player Noah Rubin also stuck the boot in, calling the decision to play the tournament “reckless and disappointing”.

Whilst sporting codes around the world take extreme precautions to ensure the safety of those competing, the Adria Tour has been on the receiving end of criticism since it kicked off two weeks ago:

…players have routinely been embracing and high-fiving, or playing contact sports such as football or basketball in between their matches.

At the conclusion of the Belgrade leg of the tour, they were filmed dancing together in a nightclub with their shirts off. And with a strong field that also includes Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic, this initial batch of positive tests is likely to have lasting repercussions. Dimitrov and Djokovic [below] were also pictured with a crowd of ball-kids, in an arrangement that made no effort at social distancing…

The tournament put out a defensive statement on Sunday night saying that “At all times, we have strictly followed the epidemiological measures in place”.

These are very limited in Serbia and Croatia because of the relatively low number of Covid cases that have developed there.

The next scheduled stop on the Adria Tour is Banja Luka, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in two weeks. It has not yet been officially cancelled, although that may change at any point, as further testing is carried out.

Tennis coach Brad Gilbert, and former tennis pro Andy Roddick, summed up the general reaction, with the images below showing the close contact between Dimitrov and other players over the past few weeks:

They weren’t the only ones sticking the knife in on Twitter, either.

Perhaps the lesson here is not to trust the COVID-19 safety measures put in place on a tour started by a guy that believes you can purify water with your mind.

Also, just another reason to support the likes of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal over Djokovic.

[source:telegraph]