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Djokovic would agree not to play Wimbledon or Roland Garros if he has to be vaccinated
Tennis player Novak Djokovic assured that he would be prepared not to play Roland Garros and Wimbledon by continuing his position of not getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
With this decision, Djokovic would be abandoning the opportunity to surpass or equal the 21 Grand Slam titles that the Spanish Rafael Nadal has in his record.
The number one tennis player in the world has assured that he is still affected by his expulsion from Australia in January, where the Serbian disputed a trial on whether he was allowed to stay in the country due to his vaccination status.
The winner of 20 Grand Slams, through an interview with a British television network, assured that no dose of the vaccine has yet been placed and that he would be willing to not participate in tournaments for not being vaccinated.
"It's the price I'm willing to pay," said the tennis player, referring to the fact that he would not defend the title at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Djokovic has become an icon for anti-vaccine movements to which the Serbian has repeatedly disassociated himself.
The Serbian assured that he does not promote non-vaccination, claiming that everyone is free to get it. In addition, he denied that he is part of any anti-vaccine movement.
According to sources close to the tennis player, Djokovic has been very careful with everything he ingests and places in his body, that is the main reason why he has chosen not to receive the vaccine.
With this decision, Djokovic would not only miss Wimbledon and Roland Garros, he would also not be able to play the French Open.
Djokovic has prioritized his principles and the freedom to decide, claiming that "the freedom to decide is more important than anything else and than any title."
Djokovic has won Roland Garros twice, including last year. In addition, he has six Wimbledon titles to his credit, having won the last three editions of this tournament.
Last month, Nadal added the Australian Open to his trophy list, beating Djokovic and Switzerland's Federer for a single title.
His situation in Australia
Novak Djokovic was not allowed to play the Australian Open and was deported.
In the midst of the controversy at the time, the press and the player's supporters claimed that the Serb had been deported for not being vaccinated, a situation that the tennis player himself has denied.
According to Djokovic's statements, the main reason for his deportation would have been the fear of the Australian authorities that the Serb's decision would provoke an anti-vaccine uproar in the country.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, based on his discretionary right, canceled the Serb's visa for his subsequent deportation to which the Serb has stated that he "strongly disagrees".
The beginning of the legal process began when the tennis player presented a medical exemption for the restriction measures against Covid-19. This medical exemption was granted by two medical committees and Tennis Australia, in order for him to be allowed to play the tournament.
This exemption, which showed that the Serbian had recently overcome Covid-19, allowed the authorities to issue a visa so that he could enter Australia.
However, upon entering the country, the immigration authorities notified that the exemption was invalid and began the deportation process.
Novak Djokovic has assured that he never used his "privileged" position as a public figure to enter Australia or force any decision in the entire judicial process.
In the first instance, the court had decreed that due to the reasons of the procedure, Djokovic could remain in the country. Subsequently, Alex Hawke, Australia's Immigration Minister, announced his expulsion.
Australian authorities argued that this was because their presence in the country could fuel anti-vaccine sentiment.
Measures of England and France
The measures issued by England last week allow people who are not vaccinated to enter the country, after undergoing tests to rule out Covid before and after entering.
In France, the measures on vaccination could present changes a few months before Roland Garros. This would allow Djokovic to play the tournament.
France has begun to minimize prevention and travel restrictions, at a time when it is recovering from a high rate of infections as a result of the omicron variant.
The French government assured last week that at the end of next month or at the beginning of April , the measure that requires proof of vaccination could be removed, which, at present, would not allow Djokovic to participate in Roland Garros.
Starting Tuesday, unvaccinated people who want to enter sports fields must prove they tested positive for the virus within four months.
This French law, which is based on the fact that if someone was infected they will have a certain level of immunity, seeks to prohibit the access of the unvaccinated to restaurants, bars or stadiums.
At the time, Novak Djokovic assured that he had tested positive for Covid in December. Knowing this, if the four-month term is maintained in France, he could not play Roland Garros, which begins on May 22, unless he is vaccinated.
