Djokovic Willing to Miss Grand Slams over Vaccine Requirement
2022-02-16
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1Tennis star Novak Djokovic said he would miss the French Open and Wimbledon rather than get vaccinated against COVID-19.
2If given the choice, he said he would not take the chance to pass Rafael Nadal's record 21 Grand Slam titles.
3And the number 1-ranked tennis player is still angry about being deported last month from Australia before the Australian Open.
4He was deported, or forced to leave the country, over his vaccination status.
5Speaking in an interview Tuesday with the BBC, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said he is still not vaccinated.
6He said he is willing to give up competition to stay unvaccinated.
7Djokovic said he is not opposed to vaccinations.
8The Serb said he was never part of the anti-vaccine movement.
9But he said "everyone has the right to choose, to act, or say whatever they feel is appropriate for them."
10Djokovic said he has always been careful about everything he puts in his body.
11"Based on all the information that I got, I decided not to take the vaccine, as of today," he said.
12Djokovic has won the French Open twice, including in 2021.
13He also has six Wimbledon titles, including the last three.
14Nadal won this year's Australian Open.
15That gave him one more major title than Djokovic and Roger Federer.
16Djokovic was deported before he could play.
17Djokovic told the BBC he was not deported because he was not vaccinated or broke any rules.
18He said he believes he was deported because the government thought "I might create some anti-vax sentiment in the country or in the city, which I completely disagree with."
19The controversy began when Djokovic was given an exemption to the vaccination rules by two groups of medical experts and Tennis Australia so that he could play.
20That exemption, based on evidence that he recently recovered from COVID-19, permitted him to receive a visa to enter Australia.
21But upon arrival, border officials said the exemption was not valid and moved to deport him.
22The decision raised questions of whether Djokovic was unfairly given special treatment or unfairly deported because of his fame.
23A court first ruled that Djokovic could stay.
24But Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, who has wide powers, later decided to deport him.
25The government said his presence could raise anti-vaccine feelings.
26"I understand that there has been lots of, say, frustrations from Australian people towards me and towards the entire situation and the way it was dealt with," Djokovic told the BBC.
27"I would like to say that I always followed the rules."
28But his threats to skip the next two major tournaments may not matter in the end.
29New rules in England since last week permit unvaccinated people to enter with tests before and after their arrival.
30The French government also said it may end its vaccination requirement at the end of March or beginning of April.
31But in France starting Tuesday, anyone who is not vaccinated against the coronavirus will need to prove they tested positive for COVID-19 within the previous four months.
32Otherwise, they will not be able to enter sports centers in France.
33Djokovic has previously said that he tested positive in mid-December.
34If the four-month requirement stays in place, it is likely to rule him out of the French Open.
35He would only be permitted to play if he gets vaccinated or tests positive again within four months of the start of the tournament May 22.
36I'm Jill Robbins.
1Tennis star Novak Djokovic said he would miss the French Open and Wimbledon rather than get vaccinated against COVID-19. 2If given the choice, he said he would not take the chance to pass Rafael Nadal's record 21 Grand Slam titles. 3And the number 1-ranked tennis player is still angry about being deported last month from Australia before the Australian Open. He was deported, or forced to leave the country, over his vaccination status. 4Speaking in an interview Tuesday with the BBC, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said he is still not vaccinated. He said he is willing to give up competition to stay unvaccinated. 5Djokovic said he is not opposed to vaccinations. The Serb said he was never part of the anti-vaccine movement. 6But he said "everyone has the right to choose, to act, or say whatever they feel is appropriate for them." 7Djokovic said he has always been careful about everything he puts in his body. "Based on all the information that I got, I decided not to take the vaccine, as of today," he said. 8Djokovic has won the French Open twice, including in 2021. He also has six Wimbledon titles, including the last three. 9Nadal won this year's Australian Open. That gave him one more major title than Djokovic and Roger Federer. Djokovic was deported before he could play. 10Djokovic told the BBC he was not deported because he was not vaccinated or broke any rules. He said he believes he was deported because the government thought "I might create some anti-vax sentiment in the country or in the city, which I completely disagree with." 11The controversy began when Djokovic was given an exemption to the vaccination rules by two groups of medical experts and Tennis Australia so that he could play. That exemption, based on evidence that he recently recovered from COVID-19, permitted him to receive a visa to enter Australia. But upon arrival, border officials said the exemption was not valid and moved to deport him. 12The decision raised questions of whether Djokovic was unfairly given special treatment or unfairly deported because of his fame. 13A court first ruled that Djokovic could stay. But Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, who has wide powers, later decided to deport him. The government said his presence could raise anti-vaccine feelings. 14"I understand that there has been lots of, say, frustrations from Australian people towards me and towards the entire situation and the way it was dealt with," Djokovic told the BBC. "I would like to say that I always followed the rules." 15But his threats to skip the next two major tournaments may not matter in the end. 16New rules in England since last week permit unvaccinated people to enter with tests before and after their arrival. The French government also said it may end its vaccination requirement at the end of March or beginning of April. 17But in France starting Tuesday, anyone who is not vaccinated against the coronavirus will need to prove they tested positive for COVID-19 within the previous four months. Otherwise, they will not be able to enter sports centers in France. 18Djokovic has previously said that he tested positive in mid-December. If the four-month requirement stays in place, it is likely to rule him out of the French Open. He would only be permitted to play if he gets vaccinated or tests positive again within four months of the start of the tournament May 22. 19I'm Jill Robbins. 20Dan Novak adapted this for VOA Learning English from reporting by The Associated Press. 21_______________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23appropriate - adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation 24sentiment - n. an attitude or opinion 25controversy - n. argument that involves many people who strongly disagree about something 26exemption - n. freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do 27frustration- n. a feeling of anger or annoyance caused by being unable to do something 28tournament - n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days