Novak Djokovic is ready to miss tournaments, including the Grand Slams, before receiving a vaccine against covid-19, he confessed in an interview agreed with the BBC and made public on Tuesday. The world number 1 says it is not vaccinated and does not want to be associated with this movement. “I’ve never been against vaccines,” he said, confirming that he had received them when he was a child.
“I understand that in the world we are trying to make a big effort to manage this virus […] But I have always supported the freedom to choose what you put on your body, ”he says Djokovic. Given the possibility that the decision will prevent him from participating in tournaments such as Wimbledon or Roland-Garros, Djokovic says he is willing to “pay that price”.
To the specific question of whether he would be willing to give up the chance to become, statistically, the best player in history, losing the chance to win new Grand Slams, the answer Djokovic it is forceful. “Yes”.
The Serbian tennis player also explains the situation he lived in in Australia, where he was expelled from the country but he believed he had a medical exemption against covid-19 to be able to participate in theAustralian Open. “I understand the criticism, I understand that people have come up with different theories about how lucky I was [de tenir covid al desembre] or how convenient it was. But no one is lucky and shouldn’t catch the covid. I take it very seriously. I’m really sad and disappointed with how it ended for me in Australia, it wasn’t easy, “he said.
The world number 1, which this Monday has added 360 weeks ahead of the ATP rankings, is registered to take part in the Dubai tournament which starts on February 21st and where it is not necessary to be vaccinated and is also on the previous list of players registered for the Indian Wells Masters 1,000, although in this case, if not changing health measures in the United States, which require vaccination, will not be able to play.
