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World No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic said Tuesday he would be willing to sacrifice major tournaments rather than be forced to be vaccinated against covid.
In an interview with British broadcaster BBC, the player said he supports a person’s right to choose and has always been an advocate of wellness and nutrition.
When asked if he would sacrifice tournaments such as Wimbledon or Roland Garros, the tennis player replied: “Yes, that is the price that I’m willing to pay.”
On the controversy about his Australian visa and his absence from the first Grand Slam of the season, Djokovic indicated that he had obtained a medical certificate allowing him to enter Australian territory because he had recovered from COVID-19.
However, the country’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, canceled the player’s visa on the grounds that his presence in Australia was a cause for civic concern.
“I was never against vaccination,” the tennis player said, referring to the fact that he had received vaccinations as a child, but stressed that he always supported “the freedom to choose what you put in your body.”
This is the first interview he has given since he was arrested in January in Melbourne and subsequently deported.
Djokovic, world number one, hoped that the vaccination requirements for certain tennis tournaments could be changed and expressed his desire to be able to play for many years to come.
Nevertheless, he was willing to sacrifice statistics and the possibility of being the best tennis player of all time in order to defend his right not to be vaccinated.
Regarding the decisions he may make, he added that they are more important than any title or anything else and that he tries to be in tune with his body.
The player also pointed out how important diet and sleep have been to his performance as an athlete.
