Novak Djokovic accuses critics of 'malicious witch-hunt' over abandoned Balkan event

Four players tested positive for coronavirus but world No1 defends his corner

Novak Djokovic in action against Viktor Troicki during their match for the Adria Tour tennis tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. EPA

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitov and Germany's Alexander Zverev at the trophy ceremony during the Adria Tour at Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, Serbia. Reuters

Germany's Alexander Zverev in action during the Adria Tour. Reuters

Djordje Djokovic and Goran Ivanisevic during a press conference announcing the cancellation of the Adria Tour final. Reuters

Djordje Djokovic and Goran Ivanisevic announce the cancellation of the Adria Tour final after Grigor Dimitrov tested positive for the coronavirus. Reuters

Novak Djokovic hugs Jelena Jankovic during a tennis doubles against Serbia's Nenad Zimonjic and Olga Danilovic at a charity exhibition hosted by Novak Djokovic, in Belgrade. AFP

Serbia's Viktor Troicki, Nenad Zimonjic, Dusan Lajovic, Novak Djokovic, Austria's Dominic Thiem and Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov during Adria Tour at Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, Serbia, June 12. Reuters

Serbia's Novak Djokovic with his wife Jelena in the stands in Belgrade. Both have contracted Covid-19. Reuters

Novak Djokovic during Adria Tour at Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, Serbia, June 14. Reuters

Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses for a picture before the match with Serbia's Pedja Krstin. Reuters

Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses next to Biserka Petrovic during a press conference in Zadar, Croatia on June 19. Reuters

Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses for picture next to Croatia's Marin Cilic and Borna Coric. Reuters

Grigor Dimitrov, centre, with Alexander Zverev, left, and Novak Djokovic courtside at the Adria Tour. EPA

Grigor Dimitrov, centre, with Alexander Zverev, left, and Novak Djokovic at the Adria Tour. EPA

Grigor Dimitrov plays basketball with Novak Djokovic in Zadar, Croatia, during the Adria Tour. AP Photo

Spectators watch a match during the Adria Tour, an exhibition tournament, in Zadar, Croatia. AP Photo

Grigor Dimitrov, right, poses for photos with Borna Coric during their Adria Tour semifinal in Zadar, Croatia. AP Photo

From left, Dusan Lajovic, Viktor Troicki, Grigor Dimitrov, Filip Krajinovic, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic during the Adria Tour. AFP

Grigor Dimitrov, facing camera, shakes hands with Dominic Thiem at the end of their match at the Adria Tour. AFP

Grigor Dimitrov greets Dominic Thiem at the end of their match at the Adria Tour. AFP

Dominic Thiem serves to Grigor Dimitrov during the Adria Tour in Belgrade, Serbia. Getty Images

Dusan Lajovic serves to Grigor Dimitrov during a match at the Adria Tour in Belgrade. AFP

Novak Djokovic has accused critics of subjecting him to a "witch-hunt" after his Adria Tour event ended in a coronavirus fiasco and said he was still uncertain whether he would play at the US Open.

Images and videos of the players hugging at the net, playing basketball together and partying at the tournament were posted on social media.

World No 1 Djokovic, fellow Serb Viktor Troicki, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Croatian Borna Coric all tested positive for the virus and the event had to be called off.

Djokovic, who tested positive for Covid-19 after the Adria Tour's second leg in Croatia, pulled no punches in slamming his peers and pundits who said he was irresponsible to stage the event amid the pandemic.

"I can only see criticism lately and much of it is malicious," Djokovic told Serbia's daily Sportski Zurnal.

"It's obviously more than just criticism, it's like an agenda and a witch-hunt are on. Someone has to take the fall, a big name.

"I still haven't decided whether I will play in the US Open, the upsurge in registered Covid-19 cases in the United States and New York in particular are not playing into the event's hands," added Djokovic who was back in training on Tuesday with Troicki.

Djokovic tested negative after the second test he took last week and, having conceded after the failed tournament that it came to soon, he stressed that he had acted in good faith.

"My intention was pure, I was wholeheartedly committed to organising a humanitarian event to help players and tennis federations in the (Balkan) region," he said.

"We complied with all the laws and regulations. But we've learnt our lessons and some things could have probably been done in a different way."

The first leg in Belgrade held on June 13 and 14 with no social distancing rules in place drew a sell-out 4,000 crowd and as many fans turned up in Zadar's Visnjik tennis complex with a capacity of 9,000 a week later.

Fans in Zadar were ordered by the Croatian government to stay two metres apart but the final, due to feature Djokovic and Russian Andrey Rublev, was called off after Dimitrov tested positive for the virus.

The remaining two legs in Montenegro and Bosnia were scrapped.