Wairarapa Times-Age E-Edition

No jab, no lob as Djokovic refuses to reveal vaccination status

TENNIS Ben Rumsby of the Telegraph

Novak Djokovic could boycott the Australian Open and surrender his title if mandatory coronavirus vaccinations are imposed on players.

The world No 1, who has become sport’s most high-profile anti-vaxxer, said he would refuse to divulge whether he had been jabbed, as the likelihood grew that those travelling to Melbourne would be forced to do so.

A health order was issued 21⁄2 weeks ago that meant players faced being banned from the first grand slam of the year if they failed to get fully vaccinated by the end of next month.

Speaking to the online edition of Serbian daily Blic, Djokovic said: “Things being as they are, I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne. I will not reveal my status, whether I have been vaccinated or not. It is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.

“People go too far these days in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person. Whatever you say — ‘Yes, no, maybe, I am thinking about it’ — they will take advantage.”

Djokovic, the defending nine-time Australian Open champion, is among several top tennis players known to have held out against the jab.

The Serb revealed his antivaccination stance in a Facebook chat last year, saying: “Personally, I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.”

Britain’s Johanna Konta has also expressed reservations about being vaccinated, despite being forced to miss Wimbledon and the Olympics after contracting Covid-19.

She said in August: “This is a tricky thing to talk about because it’s a very inflammatory subject and there’s no real right answer.

“I don’t want to talk about it because I wouldn’t be able to get my point across without it being a case for argument.”

More than a third of players on the men’s and women’s tours had not been fully vaccinated by the start of last week, according to figures provided by the men’s ATP (35 per cent) and women’s WTA (40 per cent).

SPORT

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2021-10-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

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