The world’s number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has told the BBC in an exclusive interview that he would rather miss out on future tennis trophies than be forced to get a Covid vaccine.
He insisted he was not part of the anti-vax movement, but supported the individual’s right to choose.
Asked if he would sacrifice taking part in competitions such as Wimbledon and the French Open over his stance on the vaccine, he replied: ‘Yes, that is the price that I’m willing to pay.’
The 20-times Grand Slam winner was deported from Australia last month after the government cancelled his visa in a row over his vaccine status.
In the interview with the BBC, Djokovic said: ‘I was never against vaccination’ – confirming he had had vaccines as a child – ‘but I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.’
He said he hoped that vaccination requirements in certain tournaments would change, but would forgo the chance to become statistically the greatest male tennis player of all time rather than be forced to vaccinate ‘(because) the principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else. I’m trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can’.
[Image: http://www.tennistheme.com/novak-djokovic-french-open-2016.html]