Novak Djokovic has accused critics of embarking on a ‘witch-hunt’ against him in the wake of the disastrous Adria Tour that he organised last month.
The world No 1 resurfaced after testing positive for coronavirus to fire back at those who expressed shock at the exhibition series that saw a range of participants catch the disease.
In his first interview since going to ground he also joined Rafael Nadal in casting doubt on whether or not he would play the US Open at the end of August.
As the Serbian government reintroduced a lockdown in Belgrade due to a rise in cases Djokovic, who resumed practice on Tuesday, hit back.
‘Lately I only see criticism, very malicious,’ he told Sportski Zurnal. ‘Obviously, there is something more than that criticism, as if there is an agenda, as if it were a witch-hunt.
‘Someone has to fall, some person, some big name to be the main culprit for everything. I leave it to others to say if that is fair, I don’t think it is, I think that we must learn from all of this and to adapt as we go along.’
At the time of his project the virus was receding in Serbia, and the government there has accepted that regulations may have been relaxed too soon. However, there did appear to be an almost concerted effort to defy any social distancing conventions at the two events which took place before the tour was abandoned.
With American player Frances Tiafoe having tested positive at a tournament in Atlanta, the chances of the US Open happening seem to be shrinking, even before the announcement of the Ryder Cup postponement.
Djokovic raised the possibility that the none of the big three men might be there, as Roger Federer is already out injured. He suggested he would play at the clay court Madrid Open, which gets underway immediately after the end of Flushing Meadows and involves an abrupt switch of surface.
‘I’m not sure I’ll play in the US Open,’ added Djokovic. ‘I plan to play Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros in September.’
He stressed that he is in favour of efforts to get tournaments on, even if the process is proving highly problematical in some parts.
‘I fully support the USTA (US Tennis Association) wish to hold tournaments in Washington, Cincinnati and the US Open, because it is very important for survival of many tennis professionals,’ said Djokovic.
‘Like everyone, we are going through economic difficulties. Personally, I don’t have that kind of pressure that the others feel and of course I understand them because vast majority need to play now and earn money. I salute to the efforts being made to hold tournaments, especially in the USA and in Europe, despite this big crisis, but there is a limit to everything.’
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