82697
  • Log in
The Daily Sceptic
No Result
View All Result
  • Articles
  • About
  • Archive
    • ARCHIVE
    • NEWS ROUND-UPS
  • Forum
  • Donate
  • Newsletter
The Daily Sceptic
No Result
View All Result

Djokovic’s Vaccine Stance May Cost Him Entry to the Australian Open

by Luke Perry
26 October 2021 6:30 PM
Djokovic’s Vaccine Stance May Cost Him Entry to the Australian Open

We’re publishing a guest post today by David Hansard, a writer who has previous contributed to Quillette, the Conservative Woman and Cumbria magazine. It’s about the principled refusal of Novak Djokovic to refuse to disclose his vaccine status and the risks he’s taking in doing so.

Daniel Andrews, the self-satisfied Premier of Victoria, has said it is doubtful unvaccinated tennis players will be allowed to take part in the Australian Open in January.

Few are surprised by what Andrews said. It is entirely in keeping with his authoritarian response to Covid, which seems to get more dictatorial by the day. He is not alone among politicians. But like others in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, his policies seem to be reaching new heights of illiberalism.

Nine-times Australian Open winner, and world number one, Novak Djokovic, in particular, is not happy.

Djokovic first made his views about vaccinations known some months ago. He believes it should be a personal choice free of any pressure, let alone mandated. Last week, when asked, he refused to say if he has been vaccinated. He added: “It is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry. People go too far these days in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person.” 

I think it safe to say he has not been vaccinated.

Many sceptics are understandably pleased, and feel encouraged by Djokovic’s stance. It is not every day you find one of the world’s leading sports men on your side. It is a breath of fresh air after months of politicians and the media relentlessly urging everyone to be vaccinated, masked, distanced and tested, while those who express concern are often dismissed, demonised or censored.

Djokovic refuses to comment on vaccine status saying “It’s a Private Matter”. He is a world-class athlete. He knows how to look after his health. But no one should have to publicly defend their medical choices. Freedoms have been eroded with little resistance. Well done Djokovic!

— Bella Wallersteiner (@BellaWallerstei) October 23, 2021

But sceptics need to be cautious. Andrews’ statement puts Djokovic in a more difficult position than it might at first appear. Doubtless, Djokovic knows this himself.

One argument in support of Djokovic is simple but powerful: elite tennis players are some of the fittest people who have ever lived. They are at a diminishingly small risk from serious illness from Covid, let alone from dying of it. And at the highest level of the game, those who win and win regularly, do so by a very narrow margin. It is this small but vital difference between players’ performances which separates the very good from the exceptionally good, from the winners and legends.

It is to be expected, therefore, that Djokovic is uneasy. Other players and coaches agree, but have received less publicity. Pat Cash, for example, has voiced dismay about vaccinations and about the restrictions, bubbles and testing faced by players on tour. And one unnamed female player, Cash said, had a blood clot after being vaccinated. 

In April, Djokovic said: “My issue here with vaccines is if someone is forcing me to put something in my body. That I don’t want.” For Djokovic, and for all top players, it is not just training and perfecting their skills which matters. They follow what we might call a ‘whole body’ approach. Close attention is paid to diet, to improve and safeguard fitness, strength and stamina. But perhaps most of all to gain the extra advantage which helps players win grand slams. Why add the worry that it all may be put at risk, especially by a new and previously unproven vaccine, and one they don’t need?

If only it were that simple. Djokovic also has to consider his public image. Sponsors may be nervous, as will be the ATP, the governing body of men’s professional tennis. The ATP, and in women’s tennis the WTA, are emphasising the benefits of vaccination and attempting to reassure players.  As with so many organisations, companies and governments, they fear damage to their reputation, even if what they are doing sometimes defies logic.

Along with the claim that being vaccinated reduces transmission, all this makes it far from straightforward for the world number one.

Djokovic has said he is unsure if he will play at the Australian Open. He knows his words carry some weight and will be hoping in this case that he can change minds. For now, it is perhaps the best – and only – tactic he has at his disposal, if he is to give himself a chance to win a tenth Australian Open without being vaccinated.

Stop Press: A leaked email from the Women’s Tennis Association suggests unvaccinated players may be able to compete at the Australian Open provided they quarantine for two weeks on arrival. The Mirror has more.

Tags: Australian OpenNovak DjokovicSportTennisVaccines

Donate

We depend on your donations to keep this site going. Please give what you can.

Donate Today

Comment on this Article

You’ll need to set up an account to comment if you don’t already have one. We ask for a minimum donation of £5 if you'd like to make a comment or post in our Forums.

Sign Up
Previous Post

SAGE Modelling Predicts That Covid Cases Will Slump Even Without ‘Plan B’

Next Post

News Round-Up

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
Please log in to comment

Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.

42 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NEWSLETTER

To view today's newsletter click here

To receive our latest news in the form of a daily email, enter your details here:

DONATE

LISTED ARTICLES

  • Most Read
  • Most Commented
  • Editors Picks
It’s Time to Retire the ‘Deaths Within 28 Days of a Positive Test’ Chart

What’s Behind the Surge of Nearly 8,000 Excess Deaths Since April?

6 July 2022
by Will Jones
President of Brazil Says He Regrets Removing Liability From Pharmaceutical Companies for Vaccine Side-Effects and is “Sorry for All the Deaths”

President of Brazil Says He Regrets Removing Liability From Pharmaceutical Companies for Vaccine Side-Effects and is “Sorry for All the Deaths”

5 July 2022
by Will Jones
News Round Up

News Round-Up

6 July 2022
by Will Jones
Financial Times Censors Criticism of Vaccine Article

Financial Times Censors Criticism of Vaccine Article

5 July 2022
by Toby Young
Boris on the Brink: Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid Quit Government

Boris on the Brink: Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid Quit Government

5 July 2022
by Will Jones
It’s Time to Retire the ‘Deaths Within 28 Days of a Positive Test’ Chart

What’s Behind the Surge of Nearly 8,000 Excess Deaths Since April?

40
Boris on the Brink: Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid Quit Government

Boris on the Brink: Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid Quit Government

41
News Round Up

News Round-Up

21
Hospitals Bring Back Masks and Social Distancing as Covid Admissions Surge – But TWO THIRDS Are in Hospital For Something Else

Hospitals Bring Back Masks and Social Distancing as Covid Admissions Surge – But TWO THIRDS Are in Hospital For Something Else

39
Sacrificing Children’s Needs for Those of Adults was Devastating and Must Never Happen Again

Sacrificing Children’s Needs for Those of Adults was Devastating and Must Never Happen Again

9
Sacrificing Children’s Needs for Those of Adults was Devastating and Must Never Happen Again

Sacrificing Children’s Needs for Those of Adults was Devastating and Must Never Happen Again

6 July 2022
by Molly Kingsley and Liz Cole
It’s Time to Retire the ‘Deaths Within 28 Days of a Positive Test’ Chart

What’s Behind the Surge of Nearly 8,000 Excess Deaths Since April?

6 July 2022
by Will Jones
President of Brazil Says He Regrets Removing Liability From Pharmaceutical Companies for Vaccine Side-Effects and is “Sorry for All the Deaths”

President of Brazil Says He Regrets Removing Liability From Pharmaceutical Companies for Vaccine Side-Effects and is “Sorry for All the Deaths”

5 July 2022
by Will Jones
Why We Must Never Let the Woke Nonsense Silence Us

Why We Must Never Let the Woke Nonsense Silence Us

4 July 2022
by Paul Sutton
We Cannot Allow Our Schools to Become Woke Madrassas

We Cannot Allow Our Schools to Become Woke Madrassas

4 July 2022
by Wesley Smith

POSTS BY DATE

October 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Sep   Nov »

SOCIAL LINKS

Free Speech Union
The Daily Sceptic
  • Home
  • About us
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

RSS

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2022 Skeptics Ltd.

No Result
View All Result
  • Articles
  • About
  • Archive
    • ARCHIVE
    • NEWS ROUND-UPS
  • Forum
  • Donate
  • Newsletter

© 2022 Daily Sceptic.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Please note: To be able to comment on our articles you'll need to be a registered donor

Already have an account?
Please click here to login Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz
You are going to send email to

Move Comment