Djokovic Claims He’s Target of a ‘Witch Hunt’
BELGRADE (Dispatches) - Novak Djokovic, the world’s No. 1 ranked men’s tennis player, believes he’s the subject of a "witch hunt” after players tested positive for COVID-19 at the Adria Tour tournament he hosted last month.
The event ended up being canceled and both Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, tested positive after the tour. Djokovic took heavy criticism for putting players in that position and holding a tournament at all.
Tennis stars slammed the event in Croatia with Nick Kyrgios calling it a "boneheaded decision” to play the exhibition. It received widespread rebuke as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and the world attempts to halt its spread.
"I can only see criticism lately and much of it is malicious,” Djokovic told Serbia’s Sportski Zurnal on Wednesday, via CBS Sports. "It’s obviously more than just criticism, it’s like an agenda and a witch hunt are on. Someone has to take the fall, a big name.”
There were no social distancing protocols and players traveled from all over the world. Videos showed tennis stars at a nightclub days before the first positive test.
The event was canceled after world No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 33 Borna Coric and ATP pro Viktor Troicki all announced they had tested positive.
The event ended up being canceled and both Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, tested positive after the tour. Djokovic took heavy criticism for putting players in that position and holding a tournament at all.
Tennis stars slammed the event in Croatia with Nick Kyrgios calling it a "boneheaded decision” to play the exhibition. It received widespread rebuke as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and the world attempts to halt its spread.
"I can only see criticism lately and much of it is malicious,” Djokovic told Serbia’s Sportski Zurnal on Wednesday, via CBS Sports. "It’s obviously more than just criticism, it’s like an agenda and a witch hunt are on. Someone has to take the fall, a big name.”
There were no social distancing protocols and players traveled from all over the world. Videos showed tennis stars at a nightclub days before the first positive test.
The event was canceled after world No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 33 Borna Coric and ATP pro Viktor Troicki all announced they had tested positive.