Ex-Wimbledon champ Goran Ivanisevic positive for coronavirus

Novak Djokovic’s coach latest big name to test positive after Adria Tour event

Goran Ivanisevic, right, and Novak Djokovic during practice for the Adria Tour. Picture: Zvonko Kucelin/AP

Novak Djokovic’s coach, former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, has confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Croatian, who won at the All England Club in 2001, had come out in defence of the Serbian over his organisation of the ill-fated Adria Tour.

The event had to be cancelled after one of the participants, Grigor Dimitrov, tested positive.

Ivanisevic defended Djokovic, who has also since tested positive, telling the New York Times everyone attacking the 33-year-old was “smart now” but that the event had been given government approval.

Now the 48-year-old coach has tested positive, too. Ivanisevic wrote on Instagram: “Unfortunately after two negative tests in the last 10 days, I have just found out I have tested positive for Covid-19. I feel good and don’t have any symptoms.”

The event, which took place in front of crowds with little evidence of social-distancing, was criticised by other players.

Australian Nick Kyrgios called the decision to stage the event “boneheaded” while British No 1 Dan Evans described it as “a poor example to set”.

Djokovic said earlier this week: “I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm. Everything the organisers and I did the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. We believed the tournament met all health protocols and the health of our region seemed in good conditions to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons. We were wrong and it was too soon. I can’t express enough how sorry I am for this.”

Meanwhile, this year’s Davis Cup Finals has been postponed until next year. The event will now take place in Madrid in the week of 22 November 2021.

International Tennis Federation David Haggerty said: “This is a tough decision to have to make, but delivering an international team event on this scale while guaranteeing the health and safety of all involved ultimately poses too great a risk.”

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