Djokovic prepared to miss French Open, Wimbledon
NOVAK Djokovic has broken his silence on his Australia visa saga, revealing that he will not participate in future Grand Slams if it means he has to take a COVID-19 vaccination.
The Serbian (34) was last month deported from Australia amid a row over his vaccination status, with the government cancelling his visa ahead of the Australian Open.
Australia’s strict border rules state all arrivals must be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless medically exempt and the world number one said he had obtained a medical exemption as he had recently recovered from the virus.
However, Australia’s Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, claimed that Djokovic’s presence in Melbourne would cause “civil unrest” and subsequently deported him.
Djokovic’s rival Rafael Nadal went on to win the tournament Down Under, taking his Grand Slam tally to 21, one more than the Serbian’s haul of 20. Earlier this month, it was reported that the 34-year-old was considering taking the jab so as to eclipse the Spaniard’s total.
Now, Djokovic has broken his silence on the visa saga and says he would choose not play at future tournaments - foregoing his chance to be considered, statistically, tennis’ greatest male player — if he has to take the vaccine to compete.
“Yes, that is the price that I’m willing to pay,” he told the BBC.
Because the principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else. I’m trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can.”
Speaking from his tennis base in Belgrade, Djokovic confirmed that he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19, but distanced himself from the antivax movement, but believes in his freedom to “choose what you put in your body”.
The 34-year-old insisted that he is “keeping [his] mind open” to the possibility of being vaccinated in the future “because we are all trying to find collectively, a best possible solution to end COVID-19”.
“I was never against vaccination. I understand that globally, everyone is trying to put a big effort into handling this virus and seeing, hopefully, an end soon to this virus.
“For me, as an elite professional athlete I have always carefully reviewed and assessed everything that comes in, from the supplements, the food, the water that I drink or sports drinks, anything really that comes into my body as a fuel.