Djokovic reduces in tears in his Belgrade event
Emotional Novak Djokovic broke downwards in tears before an enthusiastic home crowd in Belgrade after he failed to make the ultimate in the primary leg of his Balkans charity tennis tournament in Sunday.
"I am not crying because I missed the finals. I am only overwhelmed by emotion because this reminds me of my childhood," the environment number one told 4,000 fans packed in to the Novak Tennis Centre on the banks of the Danube.
"It has been an emotional couple of days and I want to thank everyone who reinforced the event and achieved it."
To a position ovation, the 33-year-old added: "I really like you all and many thanks so much for coming."
Third-ranked Dominic Thiem, amount seven Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov, the environment 19, also took part on the Adria Tour event that got underway in Saturday.
The four headline stars were joined by Serbian ATP players -- Viktor Troicki, Filip Krajinovic and Dusan Lajovic.
Two big surprises marked the first of all day -- Djokovic dropped to Krajinovic in 3 sets and Dimitrov went down in two against late call-up Nikola Milojevic.
Djokovic's gain against Zverev on Sunday had not been a sufficient amount of to secure him a location in the final which saw Thiem defeat Krajinovic 4-3, 2-4, 4-2.
No-go Montenegro
The event had suffered an embarrassing setback on Saturday when the planned Montenegro leg of the four-nation tour was cancelled over coronavirus protocol rules.
Montenegro was because of be the third stop on June 27 and 28 after Croatia and prior to the conclusion in Bosnia.
But organisers said the go to to the neighbouring country was called off when it became apparent Serbia didn't match strict health requirements.
Meanwhile, asked to touch upon social distancing measures through the Belgrade weekend, which witnessed packed stands, Djokovic said that both Serbia and the region had been relatively successful found in containing the virus.
"Of course you may criticise, you may also say that is dangerous or certainly not, but it's not up to me to make the calls what is health-wise right or incorrect," he told reporters, stressing he was acting consistent with suggestions of the Serbian government.
Balkan countries coped with the coronavirus pandemic with relative success.
The spot of some 22 million people registered about 24,000 infections and fewer than 800 deaths.
The ATP and WTA Tours have been suspended since March as a result of pandemic and will not resume at least until the end of July.
Primarily, the organisers in Belgrade, respecting the guidelines in force following the rest of the lockdown in Serbia, put 1,000 tickets on sale.
They sold out in just seven minutes.
Since that time, the authorities further relaxed the lockdown and another 1,000 tickets were put on sales and they sold out almost as quickly.
Yet another 2,000 tickets were distributed to various sponsors.
"It's fantastic, we will be the capital of the tennis world this weekend," said Dusan Bogicevic, 25, a laws student from Belgrade.
However, spectators appeared to have little regard for health safety measures.
Each person was presented with a mask at the entrance to the stadium, but inside just a few wore them.
Amongst the players, Zverev of Germany was pleased to be back playing.
"To notify you the truth We didn't see that many people in one room in a long time," Zverev told a press conference.
On June 20 and 21, the Adria Tour tournament will move to Zadar, on Croatia's Adriatic coast.
Djokovic will be joined up with there by Croatia's 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic and Borna Coric.
The final stop in Bosnia will maintain the northwestern town of Banja Luka on July 3 and 4.
The tournament will close on July 5 with an exhibition meet in Sarajevo between Djokovic and Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur.
