Novak Djokovic kicked off one of the biggest controversies in recent months when he revealed that he would be opposed to a compulsory Coronavirus vaccine. With the world writhing in pain with the disease, Novak‘s comments have been declared insensitive and ignorant by many.
This is what Novak had said during a live Facebook chat with fellow Serbian players –
“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter, and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.”
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This had kicked off a storm with many calling out Novak for being un-scientific. Andy Roddick has been one big name to react.
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How has the tennis community responded to the comments by Novak Djokovic?
Andy Roddick said that he didn’t necessarily agree with Novak Djokovic. However, he believed that Novak had all the right to have an opinion.
“I don’t have to agree with someone’s belief system to respect the fact that they have it. The bottom line is not whether or not he believes in vaccinations, it’s what safest to bring tennis to the forefront on a global stage. And that is going to be with testing that’s going to be with vaccination that’s going to let us get back to what we know as normal.”
“So, again Novak said this himself. I don’t have to agree with his stance. He knows that he’s going to have a decision to make. I’ll be curious to see how deep his belief system runs if he’s gonna sit out Grand Slams because he doesn’t want to take a vaccination shot.”
Other constituents of the tennis community were not so kind to Novak Djokovic.
In hindsight, Novak Djokovic being a "Live, Laugh, Love" sort of person ought to have been a warning sign. pic.twitter.com/owNQcjgwEU
— Swansea Snapper (@JCJJMB) April 20, 2020
Novak Djokovic:
"Guys I'm an anti-vaxxer!"Also Novak Djokovic:
"Why don't the fans love me like they love Roger and Rafa?"— Sid (@HertsSid) April 20, 2020
In other news, it turns out that Novak Djokovic is not one of the brightest sparks around.
Luckily for him he’s better at playing tennis than understanding basic medical science.#VaccinesWork #vaccinated pic.twitter.com/dHAJRaRslm
— Samantha Wood (@Samanth84119438) April 20, 2020
If Novak Djokovic's public image were the stock market, the last couple days would have set records in either direction.
— Jonathan Newman (@Tennis_Jon) April 20, 2020
Thought this picture was super cute when it came out, now I’m not so sure 😓
You can follow all the quack advice you like but when it affects other people you have to draw the line #NovakDjokovic pic.twitter.com/chCtTLcLNq— Yinka ✌🏾 (@95_yinka) April 20, 2020
fabio fognini and novak djokovic are competing against each other for the clown title
— domi (@rafaeInadals) April 20, 2020
"Novak Djokovic" One more vaccine for us then pic.twitter.com/fx4cf51USr
— Mort Cohen (@CohenMort) April 20, 2020
Novak Djokovic. That's all. That's the tweet. #QuarantineLife pic.twitter.com/otvewjr7hb
— Ornacia Lopez Wintour-Evangelista-Ferocity (@ornacialopez) April 20, 2020
.@DjokerNole you are utterly irresponsible. Vaccinations save millions of lives a year. FACT. When pandemics do happen, its the poor that suffer. FACT. Not people in Ivory Towers like yourself. We need public figures, with influence, to stop following pseudoscience. Thank you.
— Micheal Gamete (@GameteMichael) April 20, 2020
I was today years old when I found out Novak Djokovic is an anti-vaxxer
— Camille B. Naredo (@camillenaredo) April 20, 2020
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However, some also expressed support for Novak Djokovic saying that there were many like him out there.
All my support to you @DjokerNole. Your position about vaccination give hope to all people who feel the same. Thank you 🙏❤️
— Laurent Dat (@DatLaurent) April 20, 2020
Brother, is this true?…if it is, know that I'm behind you and a lot of people on this planet…please speak up!🥰 you are our hope against this evil🙏🏻🌺 pic.twitter.com/DeXFmrerML
— Arjuna (@Arjuna38090666) April 20, 2020
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Novak Djokovic just expressed his opinion on potential vaccination #COVID19
”I'm not going to get vaccinated. If that is mandatory, I'll have to think.”
My guy. Way to go Novak. Bravo for having BIG cohones pic.twitter.com/iBuzyZSQ1L— Goran (@goranpoleksic) April 19, 2020
Reading comments about Novak Djokovic made me confused. People just love to hate him! He was talking about FORCED (and untested) vaccination. Who would want to take that?! That doesn’t make anyone an antivaxxer! Read the whole article not ‘omg Novak says no’ 🙄#NovakDjokovic pic.twitter.com/BfMX36IW7e
— Silvia Mladenovic (@rheasilviaparis) April 20, 2020
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What do you think of the comments by Novak Djokovic?
