Two Virus Cases Raise Questions Over Djokovic Tournament
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NBA | Page 4 RUGBY | Page 5 Hawks recognise How Mandela improvement inspired Pienaar, on defense so Boks to conquer ‘crucial’ the world Tuesday, June 23, 2020 FOOTBALL Dhul-Qa’da 2, 1441 AH Mourinho hits back GULF TIMES at Merson’s criticism of playing style SPORT Page 3 TENNIS Two virus cases raise questions over Djokovic tournament Croatia’s Coric too tests positive for Covid-19; Zverev and Cilic test negative Murray says priority is to play at AFP US Open and French Open Paris, France Reuters “I don’t mind what the situation New York, United States is, providing it is safe. If I was orna Coric said yester- told I could take one person day he had become the with me... you can make that second player to test ormer world number work. I’d probably go with a positive for coronavirus, one Andy Murray says physio and some coaching B he is looking forward to could be done remotely.” prompting growing questions F about an exhibition tournament competing at the US Open and The ATP and WTA Tours are set in the Balkans featuring world French Open later this year but to resume in August but the number one Novak Djokovic. only if it is safe enough amid spotlight is on the sport after “Hi everyone, I wanted to in- the Covid-19 pandemic that Grigor Dimitrov and Borna form you all that I tested posi- shut down the sport in March. Coric tested positive following tive for Covid-19,” the Croatian, The US Open will be staged their participation in Djokovic’s ranked 33rd in the world, posted without fans as scheduled from Adria Tour exhibition tourna- on Twitter. Aug. 31-Sept. 13 in New York ment. It follows Sunday’s announce- while the postponed French Murray, 33, has not competed ment by Grigor Dimitrov that Open will be held from Septem- since playing in the Davis Cup he had also tested positive af- ber 27-October 11. in November due to complica- ter pulling out of the exhibition Earlier this month, world tions with his hip but is set event in Croatia, which is one of number one Novak Djokovic to return today at a behind- the biggest since the tennis sea- said strict health protocols at closed-doors tournament in son was halted because of the the US Open would prevent London, the ‘Battle of the Brits’, pandemic. players from bringing more organised by his brother Jamie. Coric tweeted: “I want to make than one person on their “My hip has been feeling better sure anyone who has been in support team to the venue for probably the past three or contact with me during the last but Murray said that was an ar- four weeks. It feels better than few days gets tested! rangement he was fine with. it did in March,” he added. “I am really sorry for any “Playing the Grand Slams “Right now, I feel a little bit harm I might have caused! I’m would be my priority,” Murray more confident because I’ve feeling well and don’t have any was quoted as saying by Brit- had more training under my simptoms (sic). Please stay safe ish media yesterday. “I think belt, more practice. In March and healthy!” the schedule is tricky and I time, I’d only been practising One of Djokovic’s coaches and understand the reason why it for four or five weeks since I’d another member of Dimitrov’s (From left) Croatia’s Borna Coric, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Germany’s Alexander Zverev pose for a group is like that. had the issues.” entourage have also reportedly photograph ahead of an exhibition basketball match in Zadar on Thursday. (AFP) tested positive for the virus, ac- cording to Croatia’s N1 television gios wrote on social media. 465,000 people. test emerged as Serbian football then seen partying at a packed channel. “Speedy recovery fellas, but “I have just received the news league champions Red Star Bel- Belgrade night spot. Coric had beaten Bulgaria’s that’s what happens when you that my team and I have tested grade reported that five of their Thiem has since travelled to Dimitrov in the second leg of the disregard all protocols. This IS negative for Covid-19,” Germa- players had gone down with the south of France to play in an- Adria Tour in Zadar on Croatia’s NOT A JOKE.” ny’s Zverev wrote. coronavirus just 12 days after other exhibition tournament in Adriatic coast on Saturday. Britain’s Andy Murray called it “I deeply apologise to anyone their derby clash with Partizan Nice. Dimitrov withdrew from the “a lesson for all of us”. that I have potentially put at risk Belgrade. The Adria Tour had already Balkans tournament following “Once you start having mass by playing this tour.” The game was watched by suffered an embarrassing setback that match, complaining of feel- gatherings with people coming He said he would now be fol- 16,000 fans, the largest sporting when the planned Montenegro ing unwell. in from all sorts of countries, it’s lowing “self-isolating guide- gathering seen in Europe since leg of the four-nation tourna- Sunday’s final between Djoko- a recipe for it to kick off,” Murray lines” whilst Cilic announced the continent went into lock- ment was cancelled when it be- vic, who is president of the ATP said. his intention to quarantine for 14 down in March. came apparent Serbia’s health Player Council, and Russia’s Also playing in the tourna- days. The Adria Tour had been or- requirements did not match up to Andrey Rublev was immediately ment were world number three The results of any test that ganised to fill the gap in the those of Montenegro. cancelled as a precaution. Dominic Thiem, former US Open Djokovic may have taken are as virus-hit tennis calendar which Commenting on social dis- Australian star Nick Kyrgios winner Marin Cilic, seventh- yet unknown. has been on ice since mid-March tancing measures during the Bel- pulled no punches in his reaction ranked Alexander Zverev and His brother, the tournament’s and was played out to a daily grade leg, Djokovic argued that ous or not, but it’s not up to me However, the US Open in New to Coric’s tweet. Filip Krajinovic. director Djordje Djokovic, said crowd of 4,000 fans at Djokovic’s both Serbia and the region had to make the calls what is health- York will be played behind closed Both Zverev and Cilic later the 17-time Grand Slam winner tennis centre on the banks of the been relatively successful in con- wise right or wrong,” he stated. doors and under strict health ‘NOT A JOKE’ took to Twitter to say they their had taken the news of Dimitrov’s Danube in Belgrade last week. taining the virus. Last week, the ATP and WTA protocols which Djokovic has “Boneheaded decision to go tests had returned negative for result “very hard”. Dimitrov, Djokovic and Thiem, “Of course you can criticise, said they were restarting their described as “extreme” and “im- ahead with the ‘exhibition’,” Kyr- the virus which has killed over Details of Coric’s positive as well as the other players, were you can also say this is danger- tours in August. possible”. FOOTBALL Real Madrid take control of La Liga with heated win at Sociedad DPA in the first two games back af- time to see the ball,” said Merino. Barcelona, Spain ter the season resumed after the “They did not hesitate one sec- coronavirus hiatus. ond in raising the flag, if it had Madrid’s defensive midfielder been me at the other end there eal Madrid earned a Casemiro was lucky only to earn would have been doubts.” controversial 2-1 win a booking for an elbow on Mikel Moments later Karim Ben- at Real Sociedad on Merino, although he is now sus- zema fired home Madrid’s sec- RSunday to go top of La pended for the visit of Mallorca ond although the ball struck his Liga, ahead of Barcelona on their on Wednesday. upper arm in the build up, with head-to-head record, capitalis- Vinicius Junior went down in Real Sociedad players claiming in ing on the reigning champions’ the box under minor pressure and vain for handball. Merino pulled draw at Sevilla. Madrid were awarded a penalty one back for the hosts in the final The fate of Zinedine Zidane’s in the 50th minute, with Sergio stages to create a frantic finale team, who was fortunate to have Ramos coolly dispatching it to be- but Madrid held on to move top. several calls go their way at the come the league’s top scoring de- “It’s a penalty on Vinicius and Reale Arena, is now in their own fender of all time, with 68 goals. Karim’s goal is legal, that’s what hands as wins in all of their re- Ramos was later replaced by I’ve been told,” said Zidane. maining eight matches would see Eder Militao after hobbling off “I don’t get involved in contro- them be crowned champions. with a knee complaint. versy because there’s a referee to Despite the tantalising prize of Madrid conceded after Ad- take care of that, I only want to going top on offer, Madrid played nan Januzaj drove home from think about our deserved victory. lethargically in the first half distance, but the goal was disal- “It annoys me that in the end against Real Sociedad, missing lowed because keeper Thibaut they only talk about the referees the spark of Eden Hazard.