Over the past 11 years of men’s tennis, during which Novak Djokovic rose to dominance and improbably positioned himself as one of the greatest to play the game, the only time his success has been in doubt came after the summer of 2017 when he suffered through many months with an elbow injury.
The injury became a point of contention between himself and his then-coach, Andre Agassi, who later said he had swiftly advocated surgery. But Djokovic addressed the injury by resting for nearly six months, believing his body was built to heal itself naturally. It was not. After returning the next year to pain and early losses Djokovic finally underwent surgery in February 2018. As he digested his guilt about agreeing to the surgery, he cried for days.
On Tuesday Djokovic gave his first full interview since his deportation from Australia after arriving there to play in the Open without being vaccinated against Covid. Djokovic acknowledged that, as things stand in a worldwide sport that moves from country to country each week, his unvaccinated status means he is unable to play in the majority of tournaments. “That is the price I am willing to pay,” he said.
In the same breath, Djokovic said with a smile that at such a critical moment in tennis history he understands his actions may deprive him of the possibility of winning the highest number of grand slam tournaments. He framed his decision in libertarian terms: “The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else.”
Djokovic’s conversation with the BBC was a reminder that his propensity for self-sabotage has become a defining trait. The principles that made him so averse to surgery in 2017 were not in tune with reality. After his surgery he won the final two majors of that 2018 season and he has won eight since. The most controversial on-court moment of his career so far, his disqualification from the 2020 US Open after unintentionally hitting a line judge with a ball, came after near misses from which he failed to learn.
Here he is again, his own worst enemy. As Djokovic attempts to navigate the world while unvaccinated – and while his biggest rival, Rafael Nadal, took advantage of his absence to win a historic 21st grand slam title at the Australian Open – according to the ATP 99% of the top 100 is now vaccinated. He stands alone.
Within the context of his career Djokovic’s stubbornness has been an admirable quality. He emerged when Roger Federer and Nadal were competing to be the greatest of their generation yet he not only had the audacity to believe he could break the duopoly, while so many crumbled in their presence, but did so in time. He has spent his career constantly recovering from impossible deficits, defying crowds roaring for his demise.
Although invaluable to an elite sportsman, those qualities outside the sporting bubble often scan as selfish and hubristic. While the experience of twice being detained in Australia and then being deported might lead some to consider their decisions and look to make their life easier, it is hard not to think that in his case the experience has only strengthened Djokovic’s beliefs further.
During his interview Djokovic continually attempted to distance himself from the anti-vax movement. His actions speak louder than words. While he may not publicly spread Covid conspiracy theories, he was evidently prepared to risk spreading the virus when he decided to conduct an interview with a L’Équipe journalist in December two days after testing positive.
“I was never against vaccination. I understand that, globally, everyone is trying to put a big effort into handling this virus,” he said. He recognises the effect the pandemic has had on the world, yet he has opted out of the current push to address it.
Djokovic further claimed he is keeping his “mind open” to vaccination in the future, yet he foreshadowed this entire scenario nearly two years ago in a widely circulated online discussion with his fellow Serbian players. Long before vaccines had come to light he expressed his concern about the possibility of having to be vaccinated in order to travel. More than a year since the vaccine campaign began, there are numerous types of vaccines and answers to many questions Djokovic could be seeking. Rather than having an open mind, it seems as if his thoughts have been set for some time.
While he may not want to be seen as someone actively campaigning against vaccination, the result of his actions are evident. Djokovic has already ensured he will be celebrated by such people and the far right, and the manner in which the vultures descended during his time in Australia was telling, with his family even breaking bread with Nigel Farage at Djokovic’s restaurant as they followed one of the Serb’s court hearings.
The reality for Djokovic now is no different from the two excellent weeks of tennis in Australia following his deportation. This sport stops for nobody and the other 99 players in the top 100 will continue to compete around the world. As long as Djokovic treads this path and vaccination restrictions remain, he will have to face the consequences of his decisions.
