Novak Djokovic, the tennis superstar who recently secured his 24th grand championship with a victory at the US Open this month, has addressed the controversy surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Despite being barred from several major tournaments due to his stance, Djokovic insists that he is not anti-vaccine.
Key Takeaway
Novak Djokovic clarifies that his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 was driven by concerns about the lack of freedom of choice rather than the effectiveness of vaccines.
During a recent interview with John McEnroe on “McEnroe’s Places”, produced by Omaha Productions, Djokovic explained his perspective on the matter. He told the legendary tennis player that his concerns about the COVID vaccine were not related to its effectiveness, but rather to what he perceived as the imposition of vaccination on individuals.
“I’ve never been anti-vax,” Djokovic stated. “I’ve always been in favor of freedom of choice. And that’s something we took for granted. It didn’t seem to me like many people actually had the opportunity to choose.”
Djokovic revealed to McEnroe that during the height of vaccine mandates and passports, he felt like “a villain of the world.” He simply wanted to compete and play tennis because it is what he excels at.
Although Djokovic appears to still remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, he seems to have put the controversy behind him. The tennis player has dominated 2023 with his remarkable performances, reclaiming his position as the world’s number one male tennis player.
In fact, just a few days ago, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama – two prominent advocates for COVID vaccines – were spotted cheering Djokovic on at the US Open.
For those interested, the full interview between Djokovic and McEnroe, along with the rest of the “McEnroe’s Places” season, is now available on ESPN+.
