Novak Djokovic has broken his silence for the first time since getting deported from Australia by telling the BBC that he is willing to miss more tournaments than receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
The world No.1 empathized his stance on the issue of mandatory vaccines during an extraordinary interview with journalist Amol Rajan where he addressed a series of topics ranging from being labelled an anti-vaxxer to allegations that he faked his own COOVID-19 result in order to travel to Australia.
At the start of 2022 the 20-time Grand Slam champion was embroiled in a dramatic argument with Australian authorities over his entry into the country and the legitimacy of his visa. In January he travelled to the country in order to play at the Australian Open but border force officials deemed that his reason for a visa on the grounds that he had recently contracted COVID-19 was not valid. Even though he argued that Tennis Australia told him that this reason would allow him a medical exemption into the tournament. Djokovic was then placed into an immigration hotel before winning a court hearing which ruled that the process used to detain him was insufficient. However, the government then used their executive powers to revoke Djokovic’s visa for a second time, which was backed by the Federal court. Resulting in the tennis star getting deported.
“So actually, what people probably don’t know is that I was not deported from Australia on the basis that I was not vaccinated, or I broke any rules or that I made an error in my visa declaration. All of that was actually approved and validated by the Federal Court of Australia and the Minister for Immigration,” said Djokovic.
“The reason why I was deported from Australia was because the Minister for Immigration used his discretion to cancel my visa based on his perception that I might create some anti-vax sentiment in the country or in the city, which I completely disagree with.”
The controversy has resulted in many anti-vax groups claiming the Serbian is one of the key backers of their cause. Djokovic is still yet to receive a vaccination and it appears that he currently has no plans at present. He distances himself from the Anti-vax movement but adds he supports an individual’s right to choose.
“I say that everyone has the right to choose, to act or say whatever they feel is appropriate to them, and I have never said that I am part of that movement,” Djokovic explains.
“You know, no-one in the whole process, during the Australian saga has asked me for my stance or my opinion on vaccination. So I could not express, you know, what I feel and where my stance is, neither in the legal process, neither outside, so it’s really unfortunate that there has been this misconception.”
Even leading up to Australia had also cast a dark cloud over the tennis star when it was reveled that he attended a photoshoot with L’Equipe newspaper despite knowingly he had tested positive for COVID-19. Something he later apologized for. There have also been accusations by some that Djokovic’s positive test last December was fixed so that he could travel to Australia on the basis that he recently tested positive for the virus. He told the BBC that he denies that allegation.
“I understand that there is a lot of criticism, and I understand that people come out with different theories on how lucky I was or how convenient it is. But no-one is lucky and convenient of getting Covid. Millions of people have and are still struggling with Covid around the world. So I take this very seriously, I really don’t like someone thinking I’ve misused something or in my own favour, in order to, you know, get a positive PCR test and eventually go to Australia.”
However, the 34-year-old confirmed that if he hadn’t caught the virus he would have been prepared to miss the Australian Open. As for future events, Djokovic says he is willing to jeopardize his chances of becoming the most successful player in history by not being vaccinated. He is currently in a three-way race with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for the most major titles ever won.
“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.” He said.
Djokovic has also confirmed that he is willing to miss some of the sport’s biggest events, including the French Open and Wimbledon, should they require participants to be fully vaccinated. His hope is that some tournaments will change their policies over the coming months as he wants to ‘play for many more years.’
The coming weeks could prove problematic for Djokovic with events such as Indian Wells and the Monte Carlo Masters having vaccine mandates in place at present. His reason for not having the vaccine is because he is cautious about what is put in his body. However, he had vaccines when he was a child and is “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”.
Djokovic is set to return to competitive tennis next week at the Dubai Tennis Championships in what will be his first tournament of the year.
