Novak Djokovic has lived through difficult times this year. The Serbian phenomenon paid a very high price for his choice not to vaccinate against the Coronavirus, not having been able to defend the title at the Australian Open.
At the end of a soap opera that lasted almost two weeks, the former ATP number 1 was forced to leave the country and suffered serious damage to his image. For the same reason, the 35-year-old from Belgrade also had to miss the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami in the spring.
Nole made sense of his season by clinching his seventh Wimbledon title last Sunday. By triumphing for the fourth time in a row at Church Road, the ‘Djoker’ has narrowed the gap that separates him from Rafael Nadal in the all-time Grand Slam standings.
Unless unlikely last minute changes, Novak will not be able to travel to the United States to compete in the American Masters 1000 and the US Open. Rafa will therefore have a great chance to stretch further. Claire Fox, a British politician and host of the TV show ‘Plank of the Week’, praised Djokovic for his consistency.
Claire Fox on Nole Djokovic
“I also thought how Novak Djokovic handled what happened in Australia and America has been great. I thought he was treated abysmally by Australia where he was refused play because of his medical status, his decision about his own body not to take a vaccine right,” Fox said.
“Not one I’d agree with but who cares, it’s not my body, it’s his body. But, he didn’t even winge about it. He argued his position. They keep saying to him, “why have you given up on these big tournaments just for this and he says, ‘because I’ve got principles’
What a joy, he is not only a brilliant tennis player, but he’s a brilliant tennis player with principles,” she added. During an interview, Navratilova had strong words against Djokovic for launching a breakaway tennis body.
She said, “He thinks he’s doing the right thing. I don’t agree with it but it’s his choice. It certainly didn’t seem to help his tennis. I think you’re better off . . . Not staying in your lane, but right now give your energy to that which helps you”.
Further, she added, “That’s what I don’t understand. Purely from a logical point of view, when you are a champion tennis player, when you commit to the sport, your energy goes into that. Maybe to get away, you watch TV, maybe you do some woodworking, maybe you get into stitching shawls. That helps you relax and it gives you energy”.
