In a world where one in two people have taken the first shot of the COVID vaccine, and in a country where 95 per cent of people have taken a first dose, Serbian tennis extraordinaire Novak Djokovic is set to enter Rod Laver Arena with an amazing fact: he will likely be the only person in a 10,000-person arena who is unvaccinated.
Djokovic, 34, recently pulled out of the ATP Cup in Sydney, the season-launching tournament, which kicked off om New Years Eve, for unknown reasons. Practicing in Belgrade with Australian Open balls, serious questions were raised as to whether the 20-time grand slam champion would contest this year’s Australian Open.
Fresh off the back off a strong finish to 2021, winning the Paris Masters in Bercy, and making the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Djokovic will be entering this grand slam with everything on the line. If he wins, he becomes the outright leader in all-time men’s majors, a record which Roger Federer has held every day since June 2009.
It is incredible the adversity that Novak has faced: all of his past three Australian Open titles have come under extreme adversity. In 2020, the once in in lifetime Australian bushfires were set to cancel the Open, with players passing out due to playing in smoke. There was limited visibility, yet Novak won that campaign eventually, defeating Dominic Thiem in the final in five sets.
The following year, all Open players underwent the unprecedented measure of having to quarantine for 14 days prior to the tournament. A raft of players came out of quarantine with a serious range of injuries.
Novak won that grand slam with a 2.5mm abdominal tear. Now in 2022, Novak will be playing in Rod Laver Arena against all odds. He will be the only unvaccinated player in a full stadium, which will be one of the more unique circumstances he has experienced. He was granted a medical exemption by two medical panels.
It almost seems like every year, Novak is having to play and win the Australian Open under harder and harder circumstances. Bushfires, injury, coronavirus.
One thing is certain: the Serb is the still the man to beat, one global pandemic on. Yes, the next gen – led by 24-year-old Alexander Zverev and 23-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas – are biting at his heels, but the pair will have to put up an almighty effort to dethrone the King of the Hardcourt.
The draw will be released in mid-January.
Ross Wright
Roar Rookie
I’m confused - how did bushfires impact his tennis?
Blitz
Guest
It’s all about the collective (common good) in China. We don’t hear any of that in Australia.
Blitz
Guest
All that I’ve read from you today are labels that the media have fed you and derogatory language. Not a coherent, original thought with any depth or clarity in sight! Whoever yells the loudest and puts others down the most wins in your playbook, right?
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Gotta say I’m following tennis a lot less then I used to and probably won’t watch much of this years open. Too many of the players are a real turn off.
Son of Coco
Guest
Aren't you one of the flogs who would normally say the ABC is leftist communist bias propaganda? Now, they're the oracle for you because they write an article you agree with. Hilarious.
Blitz
Guest
Not sure how undergoing a medical treatment that could damage a persons health is for the common good, unless you want them injured or dead? You want to minimise risk but why should a person with a medical exemption risk their health and play Russian roulette so that you can feel a little safer?
Son of Coco
Guest
There is a lovely link between people who rush to link arguments to China and their likelihood of having a below average IQ.
Son of Coco
Guest
You selfish flog.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
You’re right. There’s plenty of self-centred, self-entitled people who couldn’t care less about the common good. You see them all the time, driving while under the influence, smoking in public places, travelling on a crowded train without a mask etc. Even one of my own extended family drove more than a 150km and waited in a long queue to see a doctor who would provide a medical exemption. Just exercising their rights as individual sovereign citizens to do whatever they like. Of course, if they had to live in one of the countries where there is no such thing as the common good, no rules, no law and order, no vaccinations or health system, free to do whatever you like, they probably wouldn’t like it very much at all.
Blitz
Guest
Exemption process Novak went through explained - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-05/how-did-novak-djokovic-get-covid-vaccination-exemption/100738684
Blitz
Guest
You don’t need to get it. It really is none of your business, or mine. It’s between him and medical professionals. His medical records are a private matter, not a public one. Get it now?
Blitz
Guest
He has a medical exemption! So do I. He stood his ground, so did I. Others made different choices, that it is up to them - don’t expect everyone to follow just because many did. There are many genuine medical reasons why this treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. If you think that a few medical exemptions spattered throughout an overwhelming vaxxed populace is going to cause a health crisis I don’t know what to say - efficacy maybe?
jameswm
Roar Guru
The guy lives in the public eye. Just get vaxxed and avoid the hassle - not to mention getting the protection. I don't get it.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Not wrong
Ad-O
Guest
I understand why people who've been prevented from seeing their family or lost their job because of Australia's lockdown policy are upset. I don't understand why people would blame Djokovic for it or boo him. But then again I don't understand much about Australia's attitude to COVID. It's been disturbing to watch the authorities put the blame onto individuals just trying to do their best in a bad situation. It's been even more disturbing to watch the people buy that line of BS and turn into a nation of dobbers. So I guess we can dispel the notion that we are a easy going, laid back country cos I ain't seen much proof of it in a long time. A lot of us would be happier in China it seems.
Son of Coco
Guest
I'm fully expecting a punch on between his hard core fans and those who boo him to be honest. And TA can own the violence as a result. If TA were thinking the Australian - and Victorian - public were going to get over this and accept it by the time the tournament starts, they have made a grave error in judgement.
Son of Coco
Guest
No. Boo Djokovic for anti-vax stance and boo you for enabling it.
Blitz
Guest
Boo the politicians and policy makers for their double standards, not the player.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Is he delusional enough to think he won't be relentlessly booed? Has he not read the Australian tea leaves? Even more, this is Melbourne, the most locked down city in the world.
Son of Coco
Guest
I doubt he's gonna be able to handle the relentless booing that will be coming his way tbh and he'll fake an injury and quit mid match. I'll guess in the 4th round