NoVax DjoCovid

Novak Djokovic, world No. 1 and one of the greatest tennis players of all time and who is vying for the men's record for the most Major tournaments won, won't earn his twenty-first title in Melbourne this year. The controversy last week about Australia allowing Djokovic into the country prior to the tournament start on a "medical exemption" (because he refuses to be COVID-vaccinated) was all over the news and social media. 

I happen to like watching Djokovic play tennis (live and on TV), and have rooted for him in past tournaments (definitely against Rafa Nadal; when he plays Federer, I root for Federer). He has a strong all-court game, incredible fitness, and mental toughness.  I have respected him as an athlete.

However, in recent years, his attitude (striking a ball in anger, which hit a ball person, leading to defaulting in the U.S. Open in 2020), arrogance, and now obstinate anti-vaccination views have forever tainted his legacy, in my opinion (and that of many other avid tennis fans).  My sister has aptly named him "NoVax DjoCovid.”

I am pro-vaccine mandates for participation in public events and in places of employment. Almost no one in my medical opinion should be exempt from COVID vaccination, as the risks of being unvaccinated to an individual, workplace, health care system, and society far outweigh any theoretical risks of a free, safe, and effective vaccine that would make it medically contraindicated (I know of one patient who reported an anaphylactic reaction to her first Moderna, which would qualify), even if one has supposedly "been infected" before (which apparently Djokovic has, twice, although it’s hard to know for sure about the second instance. My patient also currently has COVID). A country and a tournament, like the Olympics, have the total right to set their rules to allow only vaccinated athletes to participate, without special celebrity exceptions, even for the King of the Hard Court. Athletes are free to choose to play by the rules or to not participate (/not travel). While I agree that the Australian state of Victoria and the national government surely could have coordinated and communicated better, making it clear they'd refuse to honor Djokovic's "medical" exemption from being COVID vaccinated before he ever boarded a plane headed Down Under, I fully support their ultimate decision (after his appeal) to cancel his Visa to enter their borders and country (as they do for all other unvaccinated people, consistent with their policy and some of the tightest COVID restrictions in the world during the pandemic as well as a very strict immigration policy in general).

To me, it's mind-blowing that someone could be so obstinately anti-vaccine to potentially give up a Grand Slam trophy and an all-time tennis record (having won the tournament a record nine times and top seeded, he was the heavy favorite). However, "personal liberty" and individual choices have consequences.  I wonder how the rest of his career unfolds from here (or if he just grits his teeth and gets vaxxed).

The controversy has created some great memes, mostly shared by my cousin, Parthan.

I'm excited to see who brings home the men's trophy this year in the void left by Djokovic's absence. He will be a vaccinated, reasonable human being and a deserving champion (The women’s champion will also be deserving, immune, and who will have not caused any hysterics or drama taking away from enjoyment of the sport of tennis).