Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas has spoken out for the first time about the controversy surrounding Novak Djokovic by describing his decision to travel to Australia unvaccinated as ‘daring.’
The world No.1 is currently in the midst of a showdown with the government over his Australian visa. Last week, authorities removed Djokovic’s pass into the country on the grounds that he failed to meet sufficient criteria to justify his entry into the country which requires all visitors to be vaccinated unless they are medically exempt. The tennis star has been given an exemption to play the Australian Open on the grounds that he recently tested positive for COVID-19. On Monday a Melbourne judge overturned the decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa but it is still possible that the government could cancel it for a second time if they use their executive powers.
Weighing in on the fiasco, Tsitsipas says his peer has been ‘playing by his own rules.’ It has emerged that Djokovic broke COVID-19 rules in his home country after attending a photoshoot despite being informed he had tested positive. He has since said that decision was an ‘error of judgment.’
“For sure, he’s been playing by his own rules. He’s been doing something which not many tennis players have the guts to do especially after ATP announced certain criteria for players to enter the country,” Tsitsipas said during an interview with World is One News.
“Not many would’ve thought to come to Australia unvaccinated or not following the protocols. It takes a lot of daring to do it and putting a Grand Slam at risk.’
“I chose to go and be 100 percent ready for whatever was to come and not having to think about anything else. Doesn’t mean my way is the right one and his way is the wrong one. Each one has a different perception.”
Tsitsipas had previously voiced his own previous doubts about having the vaccine and said he didn’t feel there was a need for people in his age group to have it. He has also indicated his support for the concept of herd immunity. However, since then the French Open runner-up has done a u-turn and had his vaccination.
According to the ATP, almost every player in the world’s top 100 has had their vaccinations which has been spurred on by the requirement of the Australian Open. It is known that Djokovic is one of those who haven’t but the names of other players have not been officially announced.
“Two ways to look about it. Every single player, almost, the stats say that 98% of the players are fully vaccinated and have followed the rules. One side of it is that we have been very disciplined. On the other hand, a very small majority have followed a different path and aren’t playing by the rules; making the majority look like fools (chuckles).” Tsitsipas commented.
However, the world No.4 has come out in support of a person’s right to freedom of choice without naming Djokovic specifically.
“How I see it is that everyone has the freedom to choose and decide for themselves. If one sees it as not respecting the human race, it is upto anyone really. End of the day, your body is a very important machine. You have to protect it. You will feel not as safe as others (of getting vaccinated), then you should proceed accordingly,” he concluded.
Tsitsipas will play Mikael Ymer in the first round of next week’s Australian Open.
