I “crucified” Novak Djokovic – not just for attempting to flout Australia’s Covid protocols to play in its grand slam last month, but because I thought he was reveling in his celebrity as an anti-vaxxer (like RFK Jr).
The facts are still murky; but it’s clear he knew he was gaming the system when he flew Down Under. That’s why he looked more like a Cheshire Cat than a wounded dog when Australia eventually deported him.
Even so, I also crucified Tennis Australia for allowing corporate greed to mislead them into inviting the notoriously unvaccinated Djokovic to participate in the first place.
But Djokovic is that rare sports figure who can force you to respect him whether you like him or not (like Tom Brady). And he’s even more infuriating because he can do this as easily if you’re watching him play or give an interview.
The latter was the case as I watched him clear up some misconceptions about his views on Covid vaccines during a BBC interview yesterday. He could not have been more reasonable, fair-minded, and sympathetic in explaining that:
- he’s no anti-vaxxer;
- he fully appreciates the need for vaccines to combat Covid; but
- he just thinks people should have the freedom to refuse vaccines for health and/or professional reasons – as he has chosen to do.
And to top that, he was riveting and convincing in equal measure when he said he’s prepared to never play another grand slam. That’s how strongly he believes taking the Covid vaccine will harm the unique composition of his admittedly superhuman body. Of course this makes no sense to me. But kudos to him for making clear that, even though he’s personally no vaxx, he’s not anti-vaxx!
On the other hand, this Cheshire Cat knows full well that, like the organizers of the Australian Open, the organizers of every other grand slam would inject themselves with Covid if that would provide a special waiver for him to play. Djokovic is boffo box office. So don’t be surprised if you see him at the French Open and Wimbledon later this year.
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