Morena Mothupi
Now that the dust has settled, Novak Djokovic has finally spoken out for the first time since the Australian Open debacle.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion was at the centre of a vaccination storm, he was deported from Australia because he did not meet the country’s strict Covid-19 regulations.
He presented a medical exemption upon arrival in Melbourne, which was not accepted by authorities.
There was a legal battle in the build up to the first Slam of the year, which went in favour of the Serbian, but it was subsequently overruled by the Immigration minister Alex Hawke, who exercised his executive power.
“I understand and support, fully, the freedom to choose whether you want to get vaccinated or not. And I have not spoken about this before and I have not disclosed my medical record and my vaccination status because I had the right to keep that private and discreet. But, as I see, there’s a lot of wrong conclusions and assumptions out there, I think it’s important to speak up about that and justify certain things.”
The 34-year-old is standing his ground, he will not be getting the Covid-19 vaccine and says he is prepared to miss every tennis tournament, including Grand Slams, if he is required to be jabbed in order to participate.
His deportation saw him miss out on the chance to win a record 21st singles Grand Slam title.
That record now belongs to Rafael Nadal, who beat Daniil Medvedev in the final.
When asked, by BBC News journalist Amol Rajan, why he was prepared to forgo winning more Grand Slams and becoming the greatest men’s tennis player to ever live, this is what he had to say;
“Because the principles of decision-making on my body are more important than any title or anything else.”
The world has been left divided by Djokovic’s stance, with many not understanding why he would place his career on the line over a jab, while others have been in support of him not succumbing to pressure.
Then there have been those who have criticised and even mocked him for not playing his part, as a huge public figure, in fighting this pandemic.
There seems to be some chance Djoko will take part in the French Open and try defend his 2021 title.
Under a law that took effect in late January, anyone who has proof they tested positive within the previous six months is exempt from having to show a vaccine pass and according to him, Djokovic last tested positive in December 2021.
Also Read: Novak Djokovic clears the air around his controversial December movements
