The case of Novak Djokovic (34)!
Can the Serbian play at the Australian Open or does he have to leave the country beforehand? Still no decision has been made. Ex-tennis star Michael Stich (53) commented on the case in the “Hart aber Weise” format on BILD on TV. Read the interview with Germany’s Wimbledon winner from 1991 here.
BILD: Mr. Stich, would you play tennis with the unvaccinated Djokovic?
Sting: “Yes, if it tested negative with a PCR test, then I would not have to worry. The tennis court is relatively large. So it doesn’t just depend on being unvaccinated. “
BILD: This is what most active tennis professionals would probably answer. Then why shouldn’t he just play along?
Sting: “There are rules to do justice to the Australians too. The problem is that apparently not everyone knew exactly what to stick to. Or everyone knew it – and there are people who didn’t stick to it. That is exactly the question. He represents a higher risk as a non-vaccinated person. As far as I have read, the Australian Open are planning to play in front of full spectators. Hard rules certainly apply here. That should also apply to the players. “
BILD: Is Djokovic a danger?
Sting: “He’s a bigger danger. Anyone who has been vaccinated can also become infected, and then be a vector. But an unvaccinated person poses a greater danger because it is easier for them to become infected and pass on more viral load. But that’s not what the discussion is about anymore. It’s about the principle. There were rules. As can be seen, these rules were not followed. I would have liked ‘Tennis Australia’ to have said: ‘We are only allowed to play vaccinated players.’ Then there would have been no discussion. “
BILD: If it’s just a matter of principle. Are the rules then correct?
Sting: “To question the rules now would go a step too far. It’s about protecting people as much as possible. “
BILD: Would you like Djokovic to win the tournament?
Sting: “It is not yet clear whether he will be allowed to play. But he has been training on the facility for three days and is with everyone else, then he can play too. With everyone who is allowed to start, you should end the chapter for this tournament. You are welcome to examine whether this is really true afterwards. It requires further investigation by ATP and ITF. “
BILD: Would you be happy if you won a tournament with Djokovic?
Sting: “I honestly don’t care at all. I don’t have a close relationship with Novak Djokovic. But you have to separate one thing. “
BILD: Which?
Sting: “Novak Djokovic, the tennis player, enjoys the utmost respect from all sides. And he can only be celebrated for his successes. Now it’s not about the tennis player Novak Djokovic, it’s about the person who has polarized in the past. You have to be able to live with the polarization of your trade. He has to deal with that. He will have to categorize negative as well as positive reactions. I don’t dare to judge whether that influences him in his game. I know it would have affected me. But maybe he’s a lot more hardened. “
Photo: Kai-Uwe Wärner / dpa
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/michael-stich-gewann-1991-wimbledon-3470881fd3d448658314c5279582529d-78809258/Bild/3.bild.jpg “/> Michael Stich won Wimbledon in 1991 Photo: Kai-Uwe Wärner / dpa
BILD: People have been upset about the Djokovic guy in the past. You didn’t have to follow that, but somehow you accepted it. Why don’t you do it now by saying: Come on, we can’t get him vaccinated, but we can endure that.
Sting: “That’s not what it is about. It was accepted that he would not be vaccinated. I respect that too. That is his decision. But if I don’t do that, there will be consequences. I just have to wear a mask and do a test. And anyone who says they don’t wear a mask and don’t take a test will have to get vaccinated. There are rules. I am also not allowed to drive a car without a seat belt. Then I have to pay a fine. It’s not about being vaccinated and not being vaccinated. It’s about: Did he follow the rules to get an exemption – or not. We should talk about tennis again and the Australian Open. At the end of the day he’s the best tennis player, one of the best of all time. But there are many others who are in the tournament and have worked hard for it. You owe these players this respect to do the same. “
BILD: One doesn’t outweigh the other. But we are in a tremendous year with the Olympics in China, with a World Cup in Qatar. Will it come about that only vaccinated players and athletes are allowed to participate? That we get a tennis world ranking that only includes those who have been vaccinated?
Sting: “I do not believe that. It’s everyone’s own choice. There have to be clear rules. It is also very important for the Olympic Games and the World Cup to learn from this situation. If there are clear deadlines by when something has to be submitted, then this must be adhered to. Which was not the case with Novak Djokovic. I hope that the major sports associations learn from this. Of course, you can’t force footballers to get vaccinated if they don’t have to in their own country, i.e. the Bundesliga. How do you then want to represent that a national player must be vaccinated? Unless the host country makes these rules, which is likely every country’s law. Then everyone has to stick to it or they cannot play. “
BILD: You said that you would have liked the Australian Association to hold a tournament only for vaccinated people. Then there will soon be a world ranking list only for vaccinated people.
Sting: “I didn’t say it quite like that. I said that would have meant clarity in the rules. And this softening of other issues would not have happened. The state of Victoria and Tennis Australia apparently made their own rules, but Australia did not support them. Of course that doesn’t work. If you want to enter Hamburg and have a visa for it, but the Federal Republic of Germany says ‘You can’t go in’, then the authorities and officials may have to coordinate better. And the associations must clearly define in advance what must and must not be complied with. Of course, it would be good if every player could be tested every day. So that the prerequisites are created for an even higher level of security. A World Cup or Olympic Games only for vaccinated people is certainly not in the spirit of sport because it excludes people who are afraid of being vaccinated. I advocate vaccination without reservation, but you cannot blame anyone if they are afraid of it. “
BILD: How far will Djokovic get if he can play at the Australian Open?
Sting: “I think he is not allowed to play …”
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