Novak Djokovic has finally broken his silence since his controversy at the Australian Open where he was deported for not having any doses of the COVID vaccine. Now, the Serbian tennis player once again reaffirmed his intention to get vaccinated regardless of the fact that this decision could cost him his career and fight for the biggest titles of the year.
“I am not against vaccination, but my body is more important than any title. It’s the price I’m willing to pay. I defend the freedom to put whatever I want on my body“, commented the Serbian to BBC Mundo.
The current number one in the world, comes from being deported from Australia for which he could not participate in the first major tournament of the year, much less had the opportunity to defend his Grand Slam title on Australian soil.
“I was very disappointed in the way things ended there. It was not easy to deal with this situation. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his power to cancel my visa because, in his opinion, it would create anti-vaccine sentiment in the country or in the city of Melbourne. And I don’t agree with that at all”, added Novak Djokovic.
But the Australian Open will not be his only absence, but today, he could not even play Roland Garros, much less Wimbledon; both corresponding to the other two Grand Slam tournaments. Likewise, he will not be allowed to enter the United States to play Masters 1, 000 in Indian Wells and Miami.
“I hope to be able to play for a few more years, but I try to be in harmony with my body. However, I have an open mind because we must find a solution to end COVID”, concluded the Serb.
However, not being able to play the following Masters 1, 000, Djokovic will be yielding to Danill Medvedev the first place in the ATP Rankings; Of course, the Russian will have to win the Acapulco Open.
Finally, Djokovic is in Dubai right now to play the Open 500 of the emirate in what will be his first competition of the 2022. Subsequently, he plans to also play in Monte Carlo and the Open 250 in Belgrade, the Mutua Madrid Open and Rome.
Read Also:
The Djokovic-Australia drama continues: Justice dismisses false PCR test complaint
Now does he vaccinate? Djokovic would make decisions after the Grand Slam 21 of Rafa Nadal. Now does he get vaccinated? Djokovic would make decisions after Rafa Nadal’s Grand Slam 21
Novak Djokovic is the majority shareholder of a biotech company looking for a treatment for covid that does not require a vaccine