Goran Ivanisevic claims Novak Djokovic was so firm in his personal beliefs that he was ready to walk away from pro tennis if taking a COVID-19 vaccine was a mandate for him to continue playing.
If you remember well, the infamous Australia visa saga in early 2022 mainly occurred because the Serb wasn’t vaccinated. That same year, the former world No. 1 wasn’t allowed to enter the United States for the US Open and the Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami.
During that period, Djokovic was heavily scrutinized – not only because of his vaccine stance – but also because some felt he was sending the wrong message.
Ivanisevic: Djokovic didn’t want to take the vaccine, he was ready to end his career for this reason
“The world condemned him, criticized him relentlessly, even belittled him for standing firm. Yet he never wavered, standing firm in his conviction with a determination that still resonates. Now we are talking about those vaccines and they say that some of them caused problems. We were locked up like sheep for three years and we were manipulated,” the Croatian, who worked with the Serb between 2018 and 2024, said on TV Arena Sport’s podcast Neuspjeh Prvaka.
“It was during the pandemic when he refused to get vaccinated. He said publicly several times that it was a decision he was making for his body, that he knew his body best and that he didn’t want to do that. And he was ready to end his career for this reason. He went all the way just to not get vaccinated.”
After what Djokovic went through in Australia in 2022 January, some thought the Serb would definitely take the vaccine. But the 37-year-old was quick to dismiss those talks.
By 2023, the Australian and the United States authorities relaxed their respective COVID-19 measures – which led to the current world No. 5 returning to the Australian Open and the US Open that year.
During the 2023 season, Djokovic won three Grand Slams to improve to an all-time record of 24, leaving 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal behind him.
Tennis World USA