20-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic said he would rather miss out on future tennis trophies than be forced to get a COVID vaccine. Speaking exclusively to BBC, he said he should not be associated with the anti-vax movement, instead saying he supports an individual’s right to choose.
Asked if he would sacrifice taking part in competitions such as Wimbledon and the French Open over his vaccination stance, Djokovic said that ‘yes, that is the price I’m willing to pay.’ Novak was deported from Australia last month after the government cancelled his visa in a row over his vaccination status. Djokovic said he had obtained a medical exemption to enter the country to play in the Australian Open as he had recently recovered from COVID-19.
However, Alex Hawke, the country’s immigration minister, personally cancelled the 34-year-old’s visa on the grounds that his presence could incite civil unrest and encourage an anti-vaccine sentiment. Djokovic told BBC that he had vaccines as a child, but always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body. He also revealed that he hoped vaccination requirements in certain tournaments would change, adding that he was hoping he can play for many more years.
He did state however that he was willing to forego the chance to become statistically the greatest male tennis player of all time because he felt so strongly. He replied that the principles of decision making on his 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’ he said.He went on to say that he was keeping his mind open about the possibility of being vaccinated in the future because ‘we are all trying to find collectively a best possible solution to end Covid.’
#MaltaDaily