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Google translate of the article posted on Serbian news portal B92.net
Before the start of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic talked about the situation with the coronavirus, the conditions at the tournament and the false-positive tests.
Author: Luka Nikolic
Source: B92.net
Saturday, 9/26/2020 | 17:25
Djokovic will start his attack on the Roland Garros title on Monday with a duel against the Swedish player Mikael Imer.
During the media address, one of the most extensive topics was related to testing for coronavirus, which Novak had at one point this year.
The Serbian tennis player revealed that he has already been tested in Paris, how many times he has been tested in Rome, but he also made an interesting comparison with the conditions in Europe and those in the USA.
"Yes, I was tested. I was tested several times in Rome, then before coming to Paris, and then when I came here, where I was quarantined before the results arrived. I will follow the instructions we were all given and they will test me like everyone else, every four or five days, despite having COVID anti-bodies. In New York I was not tested after the first test, when I was negative, because of anti-bodies I had. But in Europe it is different. In Rome I had to be tested every couple of days, and it's the same in Paris. Each country has a different approach to coronavirus testing. I don't even think about whether I still have the virus in me or not, I've been tested many times (negatively) since I got the virus. It is still unknown if the virus can re-infect you after you recover. There are many misunderstandings, some countries claim one thing, some another... We have to follow the rules, and they are quite strict in France, but I think it has to be that way. As a tennis player, I am grateful to be able to play tennis and compete for another Grand Slam. ", said Djokovic.
In the story about the information circulating about the coronavirus, Novak pointed out something that is not talked about enough.
"I think there is a lot of confusion in the world, I'm not a medical expert, but from the standpoint of someone who simply watches what's going on, there are a lot of different opinions around. What is this virus, how virulent it is, is it really that dangerous or not, what are the measures to fight the virus etc. There is a handful of information on both sides of the spectrum, so I think that in general the majority of the world's population is very confused by the amount of information and I don't have a clear opinion on that. I can't talk professionally, but what bothers me is that I don't see the media in the world talk about how immunity can be strengthened. They all talk about precautions, we’ve all learned that by heart, but we don’t hear enough experts explaining how to boost our immune system, through diet, good sleep, breathing exercises and so on. There is a reason why it is not a topic, obviously. I think it would be beneficial to people because they are afraid. So much different information keeps people in fear and that's their natural reaction." Novak told reporters via a virtual conference room.
Unlike New York where he had the option to rent a house to stay in during the tournament, at Roland Garros he has to be accommodated in a certain hotel with all the other participants.
"I'm staying like everyone else, in that official hotel designated for tournament participants. I didn't know you could walk out of the club to the place where we train and go out on the street without an escort. And here we have security that follows you, probably to see where you are moving, etc. I don't know if it's just for the top players or for all the players, I guess it's hard for them to provide the amount of people who will follow so many players which are here. The rules are not clear enough, not just in France but everywhere in the world. I have to abide by all the rules they have set in order to be allowed to play this tournament, and I really want to play the tournament."
Djokovic also touched on the topic of Damir Dzumhur, who was expelled from the tournament because his coach Petar Popovic received a positive test for COVID-19. The Bosnian player, meanwhile, announced a lawsuit, and Popovic received a negative test a day or two later.
"The situation with Dzumhur turned out to be extremely unfair. Not only with him, I also heard that Verdasco was removed from the draw. He was negative in Hamburg, today he was positive... I don't understand why supposedly positive players are not allowed to have another test after 24 hours. They can be quarantined in their room and see if it was a false positive test or confirmed positive test. I think it would be a logical protocol, to allow the players to see if it is a positive test or not. In Cincinnati, two players were expelled from the tournament. They were positive, then negative two days later, and then negative again two days later. There are many false positive tests, they say that the reliability of tests is about 50 percent", Novak said.
"I'm not a medical expert, so I am not in a position to say what's right and what's not. I'm sorry for those players who came, worked hard to prepare and were negative, and then came here and were tested positive because maybe those tests were not reliable and they were expelled, and after a day or two were negative. He returned to Serbia the next day and was tested there and was negative. It is not easy for the organizers either, they have to take care of hundreds, thousands of tests a day, but again ... It's a big deal. If there is time, they should give the player a chance to do another test, and if he is positive again - fine, remove him from the tournament."
At the tournament in Hamburg, which is being played this week, an extremely interesting situation was seen when the Frenchman Benoit Perr revealed that he received a positive test for COVID-19, and despite that, he was allowed to go out on the field.
"It's different for ATP tournaments. In Hamburg, Benoit Perr was positive and was able to participate in the tournament, because the chief doctor estimated that although he had traces of the virus in his body, he is not contagious anymore. I don't know what to say. ATP tournaments have one rules, Grand Slam tournaments another rules, and they go one after the other. It's a little confusing, but we have to deal with it", underlined Novak.
Before the start of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic talked about the situation with the coronavirus, the conditions at the tournament and the false-positive tests.
Author: Luka Nikolic
Source: B92.net
Saturday, 9/26/2020 | 17:25
Djokovic will start his attack on the Roland Garros title on Monday with a duel against the Swedish player Mikael Imer.
During the media address, one of the most extensive topics was related to testing for coronavirus, which Novak had at one point this year.
The Serbian tennis player revealed that he has already been tested in Paris, how many times he has been tested in Rome, but he also made an interesting comparison with the conditions in Europe and those in the USA.
"Yes, I was tested. I was tested several times in Rome, then before coming to Paris, and then when I came here, where I was quarantined before the results arrived. I will follow the instructions we were all given and they will test me like everyone else, every four or five days, despite having COVID anti-bodies. In New York I was not tested after the first test, when I was negative, because of anti-bodies I had. But in Europe it is different. In Rome I had to be tested every couple of days, and it's the same in Paris. Each country has a different approach to coronavirus testing. I don't even think about whether I still have the virus in me or not, I've been tested many times (negatively) since I got the virus. It is still unknown if the virus can re-infect you after you recover. There are many misunderstandings, some countries claim one thing, some another... We have to follow the rules, and they are quite strict in France, but I think it has to be that way. As a tennis player, I am grateful to be able to play tennis and compete for another Grand Slam. ", said Djokovic.
In the story about the information circulating about the coronavirus, Novak pointed out something that is not talked about enough.
"I think there is a lot of confusion in the world, I'm not a medical expert, but from the standpoint of someone who simply watches what's going on, there are a lot of different opinions around. What is this virus, how virulent it is, is it really that dangerous or not, what are the measures to fight the virus etc. There is a handful of information on both sides of the spectrum, so I think that in general the majority of the world's population is very confused by the amount of information and I don't have a clear opinion on that. I can't talk professionally, but what bothers me is that I don't see the media in the world talk about how immunity can be strengthened. They all talk about precautions, we’ve all learned that by heart, but we don’t hear enough experts explaining how to boost our immune system, through diet, good sleep, breathing exercises and so on. There is a reason why it is not a topic, obviously. I think it would be beneficial to people because they are afraid. So much different information keeps people in fear and that's their natural reaction." Novak told reporters via a virtual conference room.
Unlike New York where he had the option to rent a house to stay in during the tournament, at Roland Garros he has to be accommodated in a certain hotel with all the other participants.
"I'm staying like everyone else, in that official hotel designated for tournament participants. I didn't know you could walk out of the club to the place where we train and go out on the street without an escort. And here we have security that follows you, probably to see where you are moving, etc. I don't know if it's just for the top players or for all the players, I guess it's hard for them to provide the amount of people who will follow so many players which are here. The rules are not clear enough, not just in France but everywhere in the world. I have to abide by all the rules they have set in order to be allowed to play this tournament, and I really want to play the tournament."
Djokovic also touched on the topic of Damir Dzumhur, who was expelled from the tournament because his coach Petar Popovic received a positive test for COVID-19. The Bosnian player, meanwhile, announced a lawsuit, and Popovic received a negative test a day or two later.
"The situation with Dzumhur turned out to be extremely unfair. Not only with him, I also heard that Verdasco was removed from the draw. He was negative in Hamburg, today he was positive... I don't understand why supposedly positive players are not allowed to have another test after 24 hours. They can be quarantined in their room and see if it was a false positive test or confirmed positive test. I think it would be a logical protocol, to allow the players to see if it is a positive test or not. In Cincinnati, two players were expelled from the tournament. They were positive, then negative two days later, and then negative again two days later. There are many false positive tests, they say that the reliability of tests is about 50 percent", Novak said.
"I'm not a medical expert, so I am not in a position to say what's right and what's not. I'm sorry for those players who came, worked hard to prepare and were negative, and then came here and were tested positive because maybe those tests were not reliable and they were expelled, and after a day or two were negative. He returned to Serbia the next day and was tested there and was negative. It is not easy for the organizers either, they have to take care of hundreds, thousands of tests a day, but again ... It's a big deal. If there is time, they should give the player a chance to do another test, and if he is positive again - fine, remove him from the tournament."
At the tournament in Hamburg, which is being played this week, an extremely interesting situation was seen when the Frenchman Benoit Perr revealed that he received a positive test for COVID-19, and despite that, he was allowed to go out on the field.
"It's different for ATP tournaments. In Hamburg, Benoit Perr was positive and was able to participate in the tournament, because the chief doctor estimated that although he had traces of the virus in his body, he is not contagious anymore. I don't know what to say. ATP tournaments have one rules, Grand Slam tournaments another rules, and they go one after the other. It's a little confusing, but we have to deal with it", underlined Novak.
