Tennis legend Novak Djokovic challenged critics who felt his decision not to get the COVID vaccine was an anti-vax stance, suggesting it was more about the freedom to choose. Djokovic lamented the fact that he had been branded a “villain” for his stance as he was essentially blacklisted from participating in major tennis events due to his status.
Djokovic was famously deported from Australia because he decided not to get the jab, despite wanting to defend his Australian Open title in 2022.
“I was basically declared as a villain of the world,” Djokovic said in a recently aired 60 Minutes interview.
“I had, basically, most of the world against me. I had that kind of experience on the tennis court with crowds that were maybe not cheering me on,” he continued. “But I never had this particular experience before in my life.”
Novak Djokovic Defends His Vaccine Stance
That feeling of being the villain. The feeling that the world is against you. That’s what most people who opted not to get the vaccine felt during the height of the pandemic.
Novak Djokovic defended his decision not to get the vaccine but took umbrage with the notion that doing so made him an anti-vaxxer or conspiracy theorist.
The man currently holding the most Grand Slam titles in the history of men’s tennis said previously that he’d be willing to forego championships in exchange for not complying with vaccine mandates. He reiterated that stance time and again.
Djokovic cautioned those on either side of the vaccine debate that the jab hasn’t been his main focus. But rather, a greater cause was at stake.
“People try to, you know, declare me as an anti-vax,” he told 60 Minutes. “I’m not anti-vax, nor am I pro-vax, I’m pro-freedom to choose.”
Called An ‘Idiot’ Who Thinks He’s Above The Law
Former CNN anchor and now unemployed recluse Don Lemon was very passionate about his disdain for Novak Djokovic after he chose to avoid the COVID vaccine.
“We had to start doing things for the greater good of society and not for idiots who think that they can do their own research or that they are above the law and they can break the rules,” Lemon said practically foaming at the mouth.
“Australia, Novak Djokovic, Australia said, ‘No, no, no, no.”
Australia, turns out, was embarrassingly wrong about nearly everything when it came to the pandemic and their draconian lockdown efforts.
Their lockdowns were so strict they sparked mass protests and subsequent police crackdowns as officials would allow vaccinated-only residents to get “one hour” of extra recreational time.
The unvaxxed weren’t so lucky.
Djokovic was also banned from the United States Open in 2022, but returned in 2023 and won his 24th Grand Slam title.
He is the all-time leader in Grand Slams and very well could have earned more if not for the worldwide vaccine paranoia that pervaded the past few years.
