By Novak Djokovic said he would prefer to miss out on grand slam tournaments than being vaccinated against Covid as he spoke in-depth for the first time since being deported from Australia last month due to his immunization status.
In an interview, Djokovic said he was no enemy of vaccination but believed that people have the right to pick whether or not they receive it. Inquired as to whether he would miss the French Open over his vaccination position, he answered: “That is the price that I’m willing to pay.” Asked if this was also his attitude towards Wimbledon, he said: “Yes.”
“The principles of decision-making on my body are a higher priority than any title or anything else,” Djokovic said.
While Djokovic can’t play at the French Open as things stand because of its recent adoption of Covid passports, it is believed he ought to have the option to compete at Wimbledon in June. In the UK, unvaccinated guests are expected to be tested only before and after arrival. In a meeting, Tim Henman, a member of the All England Club Committee, said Wimbledon will adhere to government rules.
“To get into the United Kingdom right now, those are the rules the Championship will be keeping at this stage,” Henman said. “As of now [entry guidelines are] going to be government-driven.”
An ATP representative affirmed on Tuesday that almost 100% of the top 100 players are now fully vaccinated, and that implies Djokovic is the only unvaccinated player at the top of the men’s game.
Djokovic disclosed his refusal to be vaccinated by saying he “supports fully the freedom to choose” what enters his body. However, he didn’t expand on what his concern is with the different kinds of antibodies accessible to the people who wish to be protected against Covid. “I’m attempting to be in line with my body however much I can,” he said.
During the interview, Djokovic said he isn’t against immunization overall although he declined himself. “I get that, worldwide, everybody is attempting to invest some enormous energy into taking care of this infection and seeing, ideally, an end soon to this infection,” he said.
Djokovic recognized it would be hard to compete in “most of the competitions” on the tennis schedule because of Covid vaccination passage rules. “I’m essential for an exceptionally worldwide game that is played every week in an alternate area. So I comprehend the outcomes of my choice.”
In January, Djokovic was two times kept in an immigration facility when he showed up in Melbourne for the Australian Open. After two legal challenges, the situation was settled with his deportation just before the Australian Open. In his absence, Rafael Nadal won a record-breaking 21st grand slam title in Melbourne.
The Serb was at last deported after the Australian immigration minister, Alex Hawke, practised his ministerial discretion to drop the world No 1’s visa. Hawke’s assurance that Djokovic’s investment in the Australian Open “may encourage against vaccination” feeling and cause “common turmoil” was maintained by the full government court after the tennis star stopped a last-ditch appeal.
In the interview, Djokovic dismissed Hawke’s reasoning. “The minister for migration utilized his carefulness to drop my visa given his discernment that I could make some anti-vax sentiment in the nation or the city, which I totally can’t help contradicting,” he said.
Asked what he would say to anti-vaccination activists who guarantee he upholds their objective, Djokovic said: “Everyone has the right to choose to act or say whatever they feel is appropriate for them and I have never said that I’m part of that movement.”
