Novak Djokovic’s Struggle with Vaccination Status
Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis superstar and 22-time Grand Slam champion, is still struggling with his vaccination status amidst the ongoing corona pandemic. Despite deciding against vaccination, Djokovic has tried to participate in several tournaments but has been denied entry due to his vaccination status. Recently, he was not granted an exemption to play in Indian Wells, and the same fate has now befallen him in the Masters tournament in Miami.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had come out in support of Djokovic, but it seemed to have had no impact on the authorities. Miami tournament director James Blake said that they have tried to get an exemption for Djokovic but to no avail; they have done everything in their hands. Djokovic’s current woes could also lead to his ouster from the top spot in the world rankings, as the events in Indian Wells and Miami award the most ranking points and prize money apart from Grand Slam tournaments.
While the situation may seem grim for Djokovic, he has taken it all in his stride, mocking the possibility of losing his top ranking position. He doesn’t intend to play as many tournaments as the other players do, and when they take the number one spot, he can always bring it back. Though it remains to be seen how much longer Djokovic can hold off vaccination, given his commitment to play tennis in such a challenging time, he indeed deserves our appreciation.
