- Novak Djokovic won't get the COVID-19 vaccine
- His unvaccinated status led to major controversy
- The tennis star is doubling down on his beliefs
Novak Djokovic doubled down on his vaccination stance in a new interview. The Serbian tennis great says he is not an anti-vaxxer but has strong beliefs about what goes into his body.
Novak Djokovic will risk his career over COVID vaccine
Novak Djokovic was at the centre of controversy when he tried to compete in the Australian Open in January. He is unvaccinated, so his visa was revoked and he was deported.
He now tells the BBC that he "was never against vaccination," but he has instead "always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body."
Apparently, Djokovic's belief is so strong that he's willing to put his tennis career on the line. He said he hopes to "play for many more years" but could miss major tournaments due to vaccine requirements.
Djokovic stated: "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."
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So it doesn't sound like Djokovic will be getting vaccinated anytime soon. That also means he could be banned from big tournaments for who knows how long. It is "the price that I'm willing to pay," he said.
Throughout his controversy, Djokovic has faced criticism from big names including Rafael Nadal and Daniela Hantuchová.