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Updated on 02/15/2022 at 11:06 am
- Novak Djokovic stays tough.
- For the Serbian world number one in tennis, vaccination against a corona infection is still out of the question.
- The 34-year-old also waives possible big titles.
Novak Djokovic would rather give up further chances of great tennis victories than get vaccinated against the corona virus. That’s what the 20-time Grand Slam winner said in a BBC interview.
The 34-year-old was asked if he would sacrifice attending Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open or Wimbledon because of his stance on vaccination. “Yes, that’s the price I’m willing to pay,” said the Serb.
© dpa / Darko Vojinovic / AP
Novak Djokovic: ‘I was never against vaccinations’
“I was never against vaccinations,” said Djokovic, explaining that he was vaccinated as a child. But he wants the freedom to choose what goes into his body. However, Djokovic also said that he could imagine getting vaccinated in the future “because we all have to try together to find the best possible solution to end COVID”.
Also read: Current developments in the corona pandemic can be found in our live ticker
After being expelled from Australia, Djokovic returns to the tour next week at the tennis tournament in Dubai. Djokovic, who was not vaccinated against COVID-19, had to leave Australia shortly before the start of the Australian Open in mid-January. The record champion of the Grand Slam tournament had failed with an objection to the cancellation of his visa before the federal court. Strict corona rules apply in Australia, in principle only people who have been fully vaccinated against the virus are allowed to enter the country.
Also read: The press settles accounts with Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic did not prevail at the Australian Open with an exemption
World number one Djokovic said he was granted a medical exemption to enter Australia to play in the Grand Slam tournament because he had recovered from COVID-19. In Melbourne, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal had won the Australian Open and, with his 21st Grand Slam title, overtook Djokovic and the Swiss Roger Federer at the top of the rankings. (dpa/hau)
He is revered in his homeland of Serbia, but is controversial in the tennis world: Novak Djokovic polarizes like no other tennis professional. Djokovic is currently trying by all means to be able to take part in the Australian Open, which begins on January 17th. In the video you can see which steep templates the “Djoker” regularly causes an uproar.
Teaserbild: © AFP/Martin Keep