French Open chief aims dig at Novak Djokovic for disastrous Ardia Tour

French Open tournament director Guy Forget has vowed to not make the same mistakes as Novak Djokovic when the competition returns in September.

The Grand Slam, which usually takes place in May, was moved to September 27 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But Forget isn’t taking the situation lightly after Djokovic came under fire for setting up his Adria Tour charity event in June which saw several players test positive for COVID-19.   

Novak Djokovic was blasted for setting up the Adria Tour where social distancing was ignored

World No1 Djokovic (left) contracted coronavirus as did his wife Jelena (right) during the Tour

The competition was played in front of packed crowds in Serbia and Croatia and saw players hugging at the net and posing for pictures together.

Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested positive for the coronavirus as well as Djokovic’s wife Jelena and coach Goran Ivansevic.

Forget inists he will ensure that the French Open will learn from that experience.

‘Maybe some people were overconfident there,’ Forget told Reuters.

French Open tournament director Guy Forget insists he will not make the same mistakes

Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic revealed he also tested positive for coronavirus in June

‘Luckily no one got hurt really bad but even a few cases is too much and we want to avoid that as much as we can.

‘We want to reassure everyone that having people getting ill will be terrible for us. Let’s be really careful, really cautious.’

Djokovic was seen partying with players in Belgrade before he issued a grovelling apology, confirming the rest of the tour had been cancelled and other stars from the game, including Nick Kyrgios, Andy Murray and Dan Evans had spoken out against the decision to hold the tour.

Denver Nuggets basketball star Nikola Jokic, who was pictured hugging Djokovic at a Basketball match in Serbia on June 11, also tested positive but there is no evidence that either man gave the virus to the other. 

Partcicpants Grigor Dimitrov, Viktor Troicki and Borna Coric also all contracted the virus

Djokovic shared his apology on Twitter and said he and his wife would self-isolate for 14 days. 

‘I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm,’ said Djokovic, who confirmed he did not have symptoms. 

‘Everything the organisers and I did the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions. 

‘We believed that the tournament met all health protocols and the health of our region seemed in good condition to finally unite people for philanthropic reasons. 

‘If you attended Adria Tour or were around any attendees please get tested and practise social distancing,’ added Djokovic. ‘For those in Belgrade and Zadar, we will be sharing health resources in the immediate future.

‘The rest of the tournament has been cancelled and we will remain focused on all those who have been affected. I pray for everyone’s full recovery.’

The French Open will allow up to 60% of the usual capacity inside the Roland Garros grounds when the rescheduled clay-court tournament starts.

Djokovic and some of his fellow tennis stars partied in a Belgrade nightclub, with some of the players taking their shirts off during the riotous evening

France began easing restrictions in May but has been reporting over 500 cases daily in recent days. Protective masks will be mandatory for anyone on the move inside Roland Garros and they will be recommended for those sitting court-side.

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) expect some 20,000 spectators a day during the early stages of the two-week tournament and about 10,000 per day on the final weekend.

The U.S. Open in New York, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 31, will have no spectators and operate under strict health protocols, including limiting the size of each player’s entourage.

Djokovic (left centre) was joined by the likes of Alex Zverev and Dominic Thiem throughout the evening following the completion of the Adria Tour event