Here’s Why Novak Djokovic Might Have Not Followed Government Guidelines During The Adria Tour

The emergence of Coronavirus Cases amidst players participating in the Adria Tour has put Novak Djokovic and the tournament under the scanner. As was visible, social distancing regulations were openly flounted in the course of the tournament.

However, Novak Djokovic had claimed on the Eurosport Tennis Legends Podcast that the tournament was following all government regulations. In fact, the low number of cases in the country was the reason why social distancing was not strictly followed. That was also why crowds were allowed.

“It’s hard to explain to people that the situation is really, really different maybe in America or the UK than it is in Serbia or surrounding countries, and obviously from the day one of the organization of the Adria Tour, [we have been] following the rules and the measures that have been regulated by obviously the government institution and the public health institution.”

However, the Covid-19 rules given by the Serbian government seem to contradict the stance of Novak. There are some rules which seem to have been violated in the course of the tournament. That’s what raises serious questions on whether the guidelines were followed.

Also read – “It’s Not A Joke” – Nick Kyrgios Slams Novak Djokovic’s Event

What are the Serbian Government guidelines not followed by the tournament of Novak Djokovic?

Serbian government, like all the governments around the world, has released a special list of guidelines for its population. You can check out the exhaustive list over Here.

Three points that catch attention are these –

• avoid hugging, cheek-kissing or shaking hands with others; and keep the recommended distance of at least one meter between yourself and others;
• use a face mask to cover your mouth and nose when staying indoors
• try to stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened

As we know, all these guidelines were not followed by the concerned tournament. In fact, players were openly seen hugging and even partying. It is unclear if some special permission was taken by the tournament organized by Novak Djokovic to bypass these given guidelines.