Dominic Thiem: I was shocked when I got news from Adria Tour

Austrian tennis star Dominic Thiem claims he was shocked when he received the news from the Adria Tour. 

On Sunday, world No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov announced he tested positive for the coronavirus after returning to Monaco from Zadar. 

Over this weekend, the Bulgarian tennis star played at the Adria Tour event in Zadar. 

A week earlier, 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Dimitrov featured in the first leg of the Adria Tour in Belgrade. 

Thiem, who won it all in Belgrade, beat Dimitrov in straight sets when they faced in the group stage of the event. 

After Dimitrov tested positive, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, two-time ATP champion Borna Coric and former world No. 12 Viktor Troicki followed. 

Thiem didn't play in Zadar as this past weekend he kicked off his campaign at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, which is taking place at the Mouratoglou Academy.

The Adria Tour featured packed crowds and players shook hands, hugged and played contact sports such as football and basketball.

The Adria Tour organizers have said several that they didn't breach any of the safety measures issued by the governments in Serbia and Croatia.

Back-to-back French Open runner-up Thiem has been tested five times within the last 10 days and all of his tests came back as negative.

"I was shocked when I got the news from the Adria Tour. We played without any audience for weeks, so we have been more than happy about the fans at the event. We trusted the Serbian government's corona rules, but we have been too optimistic. Our behavior was a mistake, we acted too euphorically. I'm extremely sorry. I've now got tested five times within the last 10 days and the result was always negative. I wish everyone who is infected all the best and a quick recovery," Thiem said in a statement posted on his Instagram story.

Dominic Thiem returns to the Austrian Pro Series 

After playing four matches at the Adria Tour event in Belgrade, the Austrian played two matches at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown last week  -- where he lost to Richard Gasquet, before beating Stefanos Tsitsipas. 

Thiem has returned to Austria and today he will face his close friend Dennis Novak at the Austrian Pro Series. 

So far, Dominic Thiem has played seven matches at the Austrian Pro Series and he has won six and dropped only one match.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3hYvqE9