Novak Djokovic is among the finest tennis players that the world has ever seen, but he has seen his reputation off the court take a hammering over the last couple of years.
Long a bit of an odd character and someone who wasn't afraid to go against the grain, his mistrust of modern medicine has landed him in trouble during the coronavirus pandemic. Not only has he made some misguided comments and contracted the virus after an ill-advised party last year, but his stance on vaccination has also caused a huge amount of debate.
The Serbian has spoken openly in the past about his hesitancy to get any form of vaccination, a stance that has not changed during this pandemic. He is one of the few tennis stars that has not been vaccinated against covid-19, something that had caused him a huge amount of grief in recent weeks.
With the Australian Open getting underway in Melbourne this month, it had been decided that all players would have to be double-jabbed before taking part. This obviously posed a huge issue for Djokovic, who made it clear he would not accept a vaccine just to play in the event.
It appears that the issue has now been resolved. Taking to social media this morning, the 34-year old revealed that he would be playing in the Australian Open after receiving an 'exemption permission' to secure his place.
Unsurprisingly, this news has not been well received.
Melbourne has been subjected to some of the harshest lockdowns in the world, while Australia as a whole has put a huge emphasis on vaccination for anybody that is hoping to enter the country.
Many view this news, that someone has been allowed to bypass these rules in order to play in a tennis tournament, as somewhat of a slap in the face.
The reaction to Djokovic's post was exactly what you would have expected.
It will be *VERY* interesting to see how people in Melbourne, the city with the world's longest COVID-19 lockdown, will react to Novak Djokovic playing at the Australian Open.
— Nikolaus Fink (@NikolausFink) January 4, 2022
This sucks. Djokovic got an exemption for the Australian Open. pic.twitter.com/rH9ATlJ1Tm
— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) January 4, 2022
Novak Djokovic receives an exemption to compete in the Australian Open unvaccinated.
Gee. That’s a shock!
Not!— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) January 4, 2022
Australians have been denied for two years, but this bloke - who’s taken extraordinary liberties in the face of the coronavirus - gets his exemption. Novak Djokovic is an all-time great, but he ain’t essential.
— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) January 4, 2022
BREAKING: Novak Djokovic still a fuckwit. #auspol
— PRGuy (@PRGuy17) January 4, 2022
As a double-vaxxed person who can’t go to Melbourne, less because of my arm and more because of covid, I’d just like to say how lovely to hear that Novak Djokovic has got himself an excellent rich-person exemption. Fuck. Me. Dead.
— 💧Bronwyn Clark 🕯 (@BronwynHill1) January 4, 2022
Novak Djokovic is about to find out what it’s like to be despised by all of Australia. We’re all nice and laid back until we’re not. #GetVaccinated
— Karen Sweeney (@karenlsweeney) January 4, 2022
Gee whiz, the Djokovic boos are gonna be somethin'.
— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) January 4, 2022
After everything Victorians have been through, Novak Djokovic getting a vaccine exemption is nothing short of a kick in the guts. All those lockdowns, all that suffering. Seriously? #auspol
— Dr Kate Miller (@DrKate_Miller) January 4, 2022
I reckon the crowd reaction to this is going to be very unpleasant indeed. And they will have a heck of a time explaining the exemption grounds beyond him being Novak Djokovic. https://t.co/IEdok8Sf6M
— Neil McMahon (@NeilMcMahon) January 4, 2022
so all the players had to get vaccinated (AS THEY SHOULD) but just because his name is novak djokovic he gets a medical exemption, fuck everyone and i hope this asshole will lose at the 1st round
— mary ☯︎ (@fall3nsxul) January 4, 2022
There's Rafa who apologises to people for not being able to sign autograph due to their and his safety and COVID protocols and then there's Novak Djokovic who mocks all the Australian by adding "medical exemption" in his post.....#AusOpen
— fedaltennis⁴² (@TennisFedal) January 4, 2022
Novak Djokovic awarded medical exemption to come to Australia unvaccinated after he contracted a serious case of being rich
— The Chaser Interns (@ChaserInterns) January 4, 2022
Seriously? SERIOUSLY?
What message does this send? The privilege, the entitlement, the dangerous misinformation this jerk has propagated. Fuck right off. https://t.co/mTmayMF2sW— Anita (@Doctor__Anita) January 4, 2022
Djokovic will enter the Australian Open as the favourite to win the tournament for a tenth time, while victory would also make him the most successful male player in Grand Slam history with a 21st title.
Don't expect much fanfare from the Australian crowd should he manage to achieve that feat.
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