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Serbia’s Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after winning the 2020 Australian Open. Photo: Reuters

Coronavirus: Novak Djokovic ‘opposed to vaccination’, facing tennis return dilemma

  • Men’s world No 1 tells fellow Serbian athletes that he will have to make decision if vaccine ‘becomes compulsory’
  • Australian Open champion admits restart to 2020 season by September is ‘unlikely’

Novak Djokovic faces a dilemma if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the hiatus created by the coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said on Sunday.

“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said in a live Facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes.

“But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.

“Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet.”

Djokovic in the final of the 2019 Japan Open in Tokyo. Photo: Kyodo

Last month, former world number one Amelie Mauresmo said the rest of the 2020 season might be wiped out, saying that action should not resume before players can get vaccinated.

“International circuit = players of all nationalities plus management, spectators and people from the 4 corners of the world who bring these events to life. No vaccine = no tennis,” the two-time grand slam winner said in a widely shared tweet.

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Medical experts have said that vaccines against the respiratory virus would not be ready until next year, raising doubts whether any further tournaments can be contested this year.

This year’s Wimbledon championships have been cancelled for the first time since World War II, while the French Open, originally due to be held from May 24-June 7, was rescheduled for September 20 to October 4, soon after the end of the US Open.

Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, winning the Australian Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the Uefa Euro 2020 championship were among the events postponed until next year as the pandemic has caused more than 165,000 deaths worldwide.

The governing bodies of tennis have suspended all tournaments until July 13. In addition, the women’s Rogers Cup in Montreal, which had been due to be held in August, will also not take place this year.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Djokovic opposes forced vaccination
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