Djokovic Is Keen to Skip Wimbledon and French Open to Keep away from Vaccine

Novak Djokovic mentioned he was ready to overlook the French Open, Wimbledon and different tournaments if he was required to get a coronavirus vaccine to compete.

In an interview with the BBC that was broadcast on Tuesday, the Serbian tennis star mentioned he believed the liberty to decide on what goes into his physique was “extra vital than any title, or the rest.”

Mr. Djokovic mentioned he understood that his vaccination standing meant that he was “unable to journey to many of the tournaments in the mean time,” however, he added, “That’s the worth that I’m keen to pay.”

Mr. Djokovic’s determination to stay unvaccinated, even after he was unable to compete in the Australian Open, could delay his quest to win more Grand Slam titles than his rivals. (The Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal was able to clinch a record 21st Grand Slam title on the Australian Open.)

The French authorities mentioned final month that players must be vaccinated to compete in the French Open, the next of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Mr. Djokovic may be capable to compete in Wimbledon in June, however based on latest tips, he could not be capable to compete within the U.S. Open in August.

Mr. Djokovic instructed the BBC that he was not towards vaccinations typically and that he didn’t need to be related to the anti-vaccination motion, however that his determination concerning the coronavirus vaccine was private.

“As an elite skilled athlete, I’ve all the time rigorously reviewed, assessed all the pieces that is available in from the dietary supplements, meals, the water that I drink or sports activities drinks — something, actually something that comes into my physique as a gas,” he mentioned within the interview, which was recorded on Monday. “Based mostly on all of the informations that I obtained, I made a decision to not take the vaccine as of as we speak.”