(Reuters) – Novak Djokovic said on Tuesday he was not opposed to vaccination but would not compete in Grand Slam tournaments if given a mandatory COVID-19 injection.
The tennis player, who is not vaccinated against the disease, was deported from Australia last month after 11 turbulent days during which he faced two visa cancellations and two legal proceedings. He also spent a total of five nights in a detention center for asylum seekers.
“Yes, that’s the price I’m willing to pay,” the 34-year-old Serbian player said in a BBC interview, adding he was aware he wouldn’t be able to make it to most tournaments international because of his unvaccinated status.
The world number one tennis player is ready to return to competition next week at an ATP tournament in Dubai, the first since his expulsion on the eve of the Australian Open.
Another victory at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has already won nine titles, could have allowed him to claim the record 21 Grand Slam titles for men. It was ultimately his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, who took the lead in lifting the trophy last month.
Novak Djokovic said he was ready to sacrifice his chances for ‘freedom of choice’ but was keeping an open mind about getting vaccinated in the future.
“I’ve never been against vaccination,” he said, adding that he was vaccinated as a child. “But I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.”
“I understand that globally everyone is trying to make a big push to get this virus under control and hopefully bring it to an end quickly.”
(Report Sudipto Ganguly, French version Augustin Turpin, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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