Watching Rafael Nadal move ahead of him on the grand slam title count may motivate Novak Djokovic to receive his COVID-19 vaccine, according to reports from his native Serbia.
The world number one was sensationally barred from defending his Australian Open crown last month, when he was deported for the country amid fears his refusal to be vaccinated could provoke ‘anti-vax sentiment’ in the public.
However, seeing long-time rival Nadal claim the title and move to 21 grand slam championships, one more than Djokovic, could be the catalyst for the Serbian to finally get the jab, according to Djokovic’s biographer Daniel Muksch.
“What you hear from the people around him, I think he’s getting vaccinated,” Muksch told Serbian television network Servus TV.
“Maybe the final in Melbourne also contributed to that. Rafael Nadal’s 21 is driving him, no question.”
The news comes as Serbia’s state prosecutors have rejected reports that Djokovic used a fake positive test for COVID-19 to try to enter Australia and defend his title.
The prosecution office said in a statement on Wednesday that it had received a request for criminal proceedings against unnamed individuals who allegedly forged two PCR certificates, which were later used by Djokovic to apply for a medical exemption from vaccination when entering Australia.
“The prosecution acted according to the regulations, checks were performed, and it was determined that Novak Djokovic was tested several times and that the certificates on the test results from December 16, 2021 and December 22, 2021 are valid,” the statement said.
(Photo by Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Foreign media, including Der Spiegel and the BBC, had reported discrepancies in the serial numbers of the tests Serbian authorities administered to the top-ranked Djokovic ahead of his trip to Australia, suggesting possible irregularities in the way they were issued.
Djokovic’s media team and Serbian health authorities did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Senior Serbian health officials have previously said that Djokovic’s test was valid.
Djokovic was deported from the country and barred from playing in the Australian Open last month after an 11-day visa saga on the eve of the tournament because he failed to meet strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
To enter Australia, Djokovic submitted a positive COVID-19 test issued in Serbia on December 16 for a visa exemption on the grounds that he had recently recovered from the virus.
The 34-year-old player is not vaccinated and the Australian government later decided to cancel his visa and deport Djokovic, saying his presence in Australia could stir anti-vaccination sentiments.
Djokovic is adored in his native Serbia. Since he returned home, he was seen visiting churches and attending liturgies in both Serbia and neighbouring Montenegro.
On Thursday, Djokovic is set to visit Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic, who has been vocal in denouncing the Australian authorities for deporting the tennis star.
sheek
Roar Guru
Actually, it remains to be seen if Djokovic will get vaccinated. The comment that he will get vaccinated was attributed to his biographer. But as yet, there is nothing official from the Djoker camp. He has supposed to have been entered for some vaccinated comp, but that also has yet to be conclusively confirmed. Just a lot of speculation at present.
Bad luck Brian
Guest
Anti-vaxxers lack brain cells. NAS at the Storm only got the jab because Euro/Japanese rugby clubs weren't going to offer him a contract if he wasn't vaxxed, and the Storm was going to sack him. It's always personal gain for the idiots.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Just like the positive test he so conveniently got...
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Tiley was clearly working on the infection angle from well before October. He contacted the ATP the exemption but its probable he was in contact with Djokovic much earlier. Its an enormous coincidence that they make this a medical exemption and Djokovic then gets its and a lot of evidence pointing out that it was faked. I would say Djokovic is kicking himself for listening to Tiley, much easier for him to beat Nadal in Australia than France.
jameswm
Roar Guru
In case you've been hiding under a rock, last year was different brainstrust. Vaccines weren't widely available until later in the year after the 4 majors had passed. I think from about November Tiley was working behind the scenes to get him his exemption to play. He got it for Novak too - by telling the committees the wrong criteria to base their decision on (prior infection wasn't an excuse when they made their decision and it was only ever an excuse for Aussies, not visitors). He just didn't get him the exemption to enter the country.
jameswm
Roar Guru
This is very, very amusing. He won't do it for his own safety, or that of relatives or society in general, or to be a role model. But he'll do it for his own personal gain. Oh well.
x20
Guest
With vaccination certification provided by the Serbian authorities?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Your comment “A lot of players got vaccinated to play in the Australia open.” actually works against your assumption of Novak being influenced by Tiley. If the assumption is that Novak would have got jabbed but did not because Tiley said a previous infection is fine. Then you assume up to the 16th or 17th of December, the date he knew he was infected, that Novak was going to get jabbed. As he had not been infected, then a jab was his only pathway forward. Why would he leave a jab so late? When no other player did? The easy answer is he never intended to get jabbed. If he had planned to, then that would have defiantly come up in the court case too as a way to show he is not anti-val and only arrived on advise from Tiley. The circumstantial evidence doesn’t support he didn’t get jabbed so let because he became positive. And there is no evidence, circumstantial or otherwise, that he would have gotten jabbed or intended to. Even this article says it’s Nadals 21 that is really driving him to get it. Not just the desire to play in an Open.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Actually there were some figures before they announced the Australia Open vaccine mandate something like only 50% of tennis pros were vaccinated. A lot of players got vaccinated to play in the Australia open.
Bad luck Brian
Guest
98 other players in the top 100 got vaccinated despite them being able to play loads of tournaments unvaccinated if they wanted to. They didn't get vaccinated specfically to play at the Australian Open...most were vaccinated a long, long time before that. A great deal were vaccinated before the US open. They did it because it was the right thing to do. You are a complete goose, mate. He didn't get vaccinated because Tiley said he wouldn't need to. He didn't get vaccinated because he's a selfish flog, and dipsticks like yourself just lap him up.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So which grand slam did Djokovic miss last year because he was unvaccinated. Answer none he played all four. I never said Djokovic would bother to get vaccinated if he was allowed to play unvaccinated. What I said was if the only choice he had was to get vaccinated to play he would. Thats posted on this website weeks before.
Bad luck Brian
Guest
Lol...so Tiley was in contact with him from the moment vaccines were released world wide? Christ, you literally are kidding yourself with the "brainstrust" handle. Your brain should be held in trust at a medical research facility.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I said it all along Djokovic would have got vaccinated if it had not been for Tiley. Effectively Nadal can thank Tiley, Morrison combo for the grand slam.
sheek
Roar Guru
So, Djoker’s rabid fans keep telling us he is the man of principle. Yeah, right. His principles crumpled like a pack of cards when he saw Nadal win his 21st major. And as we keep reading, discrepancies in his covid contagion continue to persist. As a mate said to me today, of the big 3, Djoker is the least popular & he is getting less & less popular, as any remaining respect for him evaporates. He might end up winning most majors, but only fellow Serbians & other lowbrow followers will think anything of him.