By Emily Shapiro for ABC News
Tennis champion Novak Djokovic has issued an apology after he became the fourth player to test positive for COVID-19 at his charity tournament.
Djokovic, who ranks No. 1 in the sport, said in a statement Tuesday, “I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm.”
“Everything the organizers 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 condition to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons,” he said. “We were wrong and it was too soon. I can’t express enough how sorry I am for this and every case of infection.”
Three other tennis players competing at Adria Tour, a tournament Djokovic organized in Croatia and Serbia, have tested positive. All matches have been canceled.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic speaks at a press conference, June 19, 2020, in Zadar, Croatia.Antonio Bronic/Reuters
Djokovic said in his statement, “If you attended Adria Tour or were around any attendees please get tested and practice social distancing.”
Djokovic had defended his tournament in a statement he released earlier on Tuesday. In that statement, he said the event was “meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.”
“The Tour has been designed to help both established and up and coming tennis players from South-Eastern Europe to gain access to some competitive tennis while the various tours are on hold due to the COVID-19 situation,” Djokovic said. “It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this.” Read more from ABC News.
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