November 04, (THEWILL) – Novak Djokovic has stated that the vaccine controversies around the 2022 Australian Open are causing him to be sucked into “a certain propaganda” and that “it certainly affects me”
Due to the anticipated COVID-19 limits that may be imposed on players, Djokovic has questioned his participation in the first Grand Slam of 2022. It is also unknown whether players will be required to get vaccinated in order to compete, as Djokovic has yet to confirm whether or not he has been inoculated.
Australia has sent inconsistent signals, with Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews recently stating that no unvaccinated players will be allowed to play, but Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stating the opposite.
Djokovic’s refusal to confirm whether he has had the vaccine, as well as previous comments implying he is anti-vaccine, has put him at the centre of the Australian Open debate.
“It doesn’t affect me like before, because in a certain way I have got used to it – from international media as well as domestic media [in Serbia],” Djokovic told Serbian reporters at the Paris Masters.
“A certain propaganda is being created; I’m drawn into that on the basis of something I said previously. The information has gone in a direction that is no longer the one that is the basis for journalism.
“There is less and less free journalism and information. More and more is controlled from one or two sources, so propaganda is spread that suits the elite or a certain group of people. It certainly affects me, but that won’t stop me from advocating for things that I think are right.
“For quite a few years now, I don’t read newspapers, online or in print; I don’t watch the news on TV. However, because of social media, I come across information that is leaked through the media.
“I can’t say that it doesn’t affect me; I’m human, I have emotions, and of course I care… As much as I care about representing true values, fighting for what’s right and the truth, I also care about what people in general think about me. My life doesn’t depend on it because I know who I am and what I am. I try to live my life according to what is right. Of course I make mistakes, but the injustice affects me as well as when lies are spread.
“When you are a well-known personality and you have a public profile which has given you a status in society…I am grateful that I play a sport that is global and popular worldwide. According to some research that the ATP presented to us, tennis is the third most popular sport in the world, sharing that spot with cricket. Only football and basketball are ahead of tennis, and basketball isn’t that far ahead [of tennis]. I am successful in a global sport and I get a lot of attention.
“That attention can bring a lot of good things and benefits in one’s professional and private life but it can also bring additional burdens too. You have influence on young people who look to you as a role model and they want to become like you one day.
“On the other hand, you are expected to give your thoughts on topics which are not related to your profession.
“I have tried to maintain a distance from those things, but sometimes when I feel like I would like to share something, then I do that. I’m someone who sticks to certain principles, life values, human rights… that has often been misused in the past.”
The Serbian also stated that he will wait for Tennis Australia to make a final judgement on the Australian Open rules before deciding whether or not to compete in Melbourne in January.
“We have now made the first step [with the Professional Tennis Players Association, of which Djokovic is a co-founder], but there is still much to be done. The unity between the players is not on the required level. If it was, we would deal with such situations much more easily.”
Djokovic is competing for the first time since losing in the final of the US Open to Daniil Medvedev in September.
He won his first match against Marton Fucsovics and will now face Gael Monfils or Adrian Mannarino. He says he is fired up for the last stretch of the season, where he hopes to capture a record-tying sixth year-end number one ranking and help Serbia win the Davis Cup.
“It’s my wish to finish the year as No 1, I have a good chance to do so, and what motivates me most is the Davis Cup.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
