Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem claims that he was shocked to receive news of the Adriatic tour. Grigor Dimitrov, world number 19, announced on Sunday that he had tested positive for the corona virus upon his return from Zadar to Monaco.
This weekend the Bulgarian tennis star played on the Adriatic Tour in Zadar. A week earlier, the Nitto ATP 2017 final winner Dimitrov played on the first stage of the Adriatic Tour in Belgrade. Thiem, who won everything in Belgrade, defeated Dimitrov in straight sets when he competed in the group stage of the event.
After Dimitrov tested positive, Novak Djokovic, number 1 in the world, two-time ATP champion Borna Coric and former number 12 in the world, Viktor Troicki followed. Thiem was not playing in Zadar when he launched his campaign last weekend at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, which takes place at the Mouratoglou Academy.
Many spectators took part in the Adria Tour and the players shook hands, hugged and played contact sports such as football and basketball. The organizers of the Adria Tour have stated that they have not violated any of the security measures taken by the governments in Serbia and Croatia.
Two-time French Open finalist, Thiem, has been rated five times in the past 10 days and all of his tests have been negative. “I was shocked when I got the news from the Adria Tour. We played without an audience for weeks, so we were more than happy about the fans at the event.
We trusted the Serbian government’s corona virus rules, but we were too optimistic. Our behavior was a mistake, we acted too euphorically. I am very sorry. I have now been tested five times in the past 10 days and the result has always been negative.
I wish all those infected all the best and a speedy recovery, “said Thiem in a statement to his Instagram story.
Dominic Thiem returns to play the Austrian Pro Series
After four games on the Adria Tour in Belgrade, the Austrian played two games at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown last week – where he lost to Richard Gasquet before defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Thiem has returned to Austria and meets his close friend Dennis Novak at the Austrian Pro Series today. So far, Dominic Thiem has played seven games in the Austrian Pro Series, won six games and lost only one game.
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