Tennis star Novak Djokovic has filmed himself training on court in Spain despite lockdown measures prohibiting the use of sports facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Djokovic took to Instagram to share a video of him playing tennis with another individual at a club in the coastal city of Marbella. "So happy to play on clay. Well, just for a bit with my phone in the hands," the 17-time Grand Slam winner captioned the clip.
Per Sky News, on Monday, Spain loosened some of the lockdown restrictions that had been in place since mid-March, allowing professional athletes to train again. However, sports facilities are required to remain shut until at least next week in most parts of the country, with the exception of training centres for teams in professional league sports.
The clip can be watched here.
In a statement posted yesterday, the Spanish tennis federation asserted that professional players were allowed to exercise by themselves or with a coach, but not on a tennis court. They are currently working on a set of guidelines to inform players and clubs about what restrictions will be easing from next week.
Watch as quarantined neighbours start an impromptu band in Spain:Last week, the 32-year-old disclosed that he initially found it difficult to cope with the uncertainty regarding training amid the coronavirus outbreak, he did concede, however, that having a daily routine has helped him.
"For us tennis players it is important that the calendar is clear. Officially it is July 13, many people say it is difficult we will start again on that day," he told the publication in Italy.
"For me it is important to have a routine, I cannot keep on waiting for that day. I train every day at the gym, I run at home, I play with my kids and this is also hard work."
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