The world’s top men’s tennis player says he will skip two Grand Slam tournaments if it means he has to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Novak Djokovic said in an interview with the BBC Monday that not getting a COVID-19 vaccination was more important to him than competing in the French Open or Wimbledon.
“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,” Djokovic said.
The French Open and Wimbledon are two of the four tournaments that make up tennis’ Grand Slam. The other two tournaments are the Australian Open and the U.S. Open.
Djokovic is tied with Roger Federer with 20 Grand Slam titles and second only to Rafael Nadal who has 21.
Nadal won his 21st Grand Slam when Djokovic was barred from playing in the Australian Open for not having a valid COVID-19 vaccination exemption. He was deported from Australia as the tournament began.
Under Australian law, anyone entering the country must be vaccinated. For a person who is not vaccinated to enter the country, they must prove they have suffered a severe allergic reaction after a previous COVID-19 dose or are significantly immunocompromised. Djokovic does not claim to be allergic to the vaccine, nor is he immunocompromised.
“I was never against vaccination,” Djokovic told the BBC. “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.
“I understand that not being vaccinated today I’m unable to travel to most of the tournaments at the moment,” he added.
Asked by the BBC interviewer if he is “prepared to forgo the chance to be the greatest player to ever picked up a racquet statistically because you feel so strongly about this jab?”
“Yes,” Djokovic said.
©2022 Cox Media Group
