Now Novak Djokovic is threatened with corona chaos despite participation

Novak Djokovic is now threatened with corona chaos in Wimbledon. Although the Serb has already played his first game. His training on Center Court could have consequences.

Update from June 28, 3:21 p.m.: A black and white photo with bad news tore the tennis world out of its Wimbledon idyll on Tuesday. Matteo Berrettini, last year’s finalist and one of the favorites as a proven lawn specialist, announced via Instagram what nobody wanted to hear: The corona virus is back at the All England Club and the shaking is beginning.

He has had flu symptoms for days, which are not or no longer “severe”, but they are still there. “The dream is over for this year, but I will come back stronger,” announced Berrettini. The Italian won on grass in Stuttgart and London’s Queen’s Club in June, and he was aiming for the next step in Wimbledon.

Berrettini was also present at the training session on Center Court on Thursday. After a session with Rafael Nadal, they both took a selfie. The Spaniard may now have to tremble despite the vaccination.

Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic is now threatened with corona chaos despite participating

First report from June 28, 11:13 a.m.: London – Will this be a never-ending story? Novak Djokovic and Corona, the next chapter. At the beginning of the year there was a lot of excitement about the participation of the former world number one at the Australian Open. The “Djoker” had already arrived, but in the end had to leave the country due to his vaccination status.

In Wimbledon he is now threatened with a new chaos! Although he has already won his first-round games on Center Court against South Korean Soonwoo Kwon 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. What happened? Sequentially.

Wimbledon: Djokovic trained with Cilic and Berrettini on Thursday

White uniforms, a lawn that is exactly eight millimeters long, strawberries and cream: many things are traditional at Wimbledon, but sometimes the senior men and women of the All England Club break with one. This happened last Thursday, four days before the start of the oldest tennis tournament in the world. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic actually entered Center Court.

What is common at the other three Grand Slam tournaments is attracting attention at Wimbledon. Training before the start of the tournament on the holy lawn in the sanctum of tennis was strictly forbidden. Until then. Nadal played with last year’s finalist Matteo Berrettini, defending champion Djokovic with ex-finalist Marin Cilic.

Wimbledon: Djokovic trains with infected Cilic on Center Court

And now it comes: Cilic, semi-finalist of the French Open, tested positive for Corona on Monday evening and has now canceled his start at the tournament in the All England Club at short notice. It was bitter that he gave Djokovic a warm hug during training on Thursday. “I went into self-isolation hoping to be ready,” Cilic wrote on Instagram, “but I still don’t feel well and can’t compete.”

Has Cilic now infected the unvaccinated Djokovic? Nadal and Berretini were also on the court with the Croatian. This could also have consequences for the Spaniard and the Italian. So far, however, it has not been said whether Djokovic, Nadal or Berrettini have any symptoms.

What is now bitter for Cilic makes someone else happy. At Wimbledon he will be replaced by lucky loser Nuno Borges (Portugal). (smk/sid)

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