London – Even for the chase for further Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic does not want to deviate from his principles.
Even at the risk of missing out as defending champion at the French Open in Paris at the end of May and the grass-court classic at Wimbledon in June, the 34-year-old Serb continues to refuse a vaccination against the coronavirus for now. The 20-time Grand Slam champion said in a BBC interview. Djokovic was asked if he would sacrifice playing in Grand Slam tournaments such as the French Open or Wimbledon because of his stance on vaccination. “Yes, that’s the price I’m willing to pay,” the world number one said.
Djokovic, who had not been vaccinated against Covid-19, had been forced to leave Australia the night before the Australian Open began in mid-January. The record winner of the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne had failed with an appeal against the cancellation of his visa in the Federal Court. Strict Corona rules apply in Australia, in principle only people who have been fully vaccinated against the virus are allowed to enter the country.
Djokovic had invoked a medical exemption when entering Australia, saying he had recovered from a Corona illness. However, there was much debate surrounding the Serb’s positive and negative PCR tests in the Melbourne days. International media, such as “Der Spiegel”, had investigated that something was wrong with the batch numbers of Djokovic’s tests.
Tournament start in Dubai
After being expelled from Australia, Djokovic returns to the tour next week at the Dubai tournament. It will be his first appearance of the year. A negative PCR test is enough to enter the event. Players do not have to be vaccinated against Corona.
“I was never against vaccinations,” Djokovic said now, elaborating that he had been vaccinated as a child. But he wants to have the freedom to choose what is given to his body. However, he does not want to completely rule out the possibility of being vaccinated against Corona. He could imagine getting vaccinated in the future, “because we all have to try to find the best possible solution to end Covid.”
However, he is probably betting more on the pandemic ending in a timely manner. Djokovic said he hoped that the Covid regulations would change in future tournaments and that he would then be able to “play for many more years”. He said he was ready and strong enough to become statistically the greatest tennis player of all time and surpass his Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, who had just won the Australian Open.
Djokovic listens to his body
For this goal, it is enormously important to listen to his body, Djokovic assured. This principle is more decisive for his further career on the tennis court “than any title or anything else. I try, as much as I can, to be in harmony with my body.” In order to stay fit and healthy, he has always worked very intensively on the topics of wellness, health and nutrition. For example, he had changed his diet and sleep schedules with his performance in mind.
In Djokovic’s absence, Nadal had triumphed at the Australian Open, passing Djokovic and the Swiss Roger Federer (20 each) with his 21st Grand Slam title.