Djokovic speaks out

It’s a shame he didn’t say this much earlier.

I agree, it sounded as though he was quoting his lawyer or advisor. Perhaps he wants to retire and this is one way to do it.

I’m not impressed by what he has now said. I think Peasblossom is right. He has been coached by his PR team. I don’t care if he never plays tennis again. I didn’t like him before Covid because he came across as extremely arrogant and entitled. A leopard doesn’t change it’s spots. He’s still arrogant and entitled, he just wants to try to make the public more sympathetic towards him.

He can do what he wants and live with the consequences. What he can't do, is what he did with OZ and cheat and lie about his covid status.

His PR team have been working hard to repair the damage.

I guess it’s taken a couple of weeks to coach his media performance.

Whether he intends it or not he will be a ‘poster boy’ for the anti-vax organisation.

I didn't like him before the Aussie muddle... I like him even less now.

He is certainly incredibly stubborn and bloody-minded to want to cut off his nose to spite his face.

I was surprisingly impressed because I don't like him either. That said, what he's said in his interview doesn't correspond with his determination to play in Aus.

His stance together with his parents insistence that he was being badly treated in terms of his accommodation, has IMO caused further damage to an already less than favourable public opinion of him.

His claim that he tested positive on December 16th, and didn't find out the result until the following day, so explaining his attendance at an awards ceremony is questionable.

He's extremely wealthy and no matter where he plays can afford to rent accommodation, complete with tennis courts to enable him to self isolate for a country's stipulated length of time, before any tournament.

Why doesn't he just do that in future if that's what's required?

I find it hard to believe that such a competitive and talented sportsman, would effectively ban himself from international competition when other options are available.

I listened to the interview.

He is not someone to whom I can warm, in fact I dislike him, but I was impressed by his principled stand.

Of course I can see many issues with his stance.

Luckygirl3

I agree. He can choose whether to have it or not; but he cannot be so naive as to not be aware that the anti-vax movement with latch onto him as a poster boy. He should keep his lip zipped.

He is young and very fit and unlikely to die of covid - others are not so.

I’m not sure that being young and fit is any guarantee.
A 40-ish ‘iron man’ died of COVID, and a supremely fit 50ish friend of a dd - who swam 1 km every morning among other things - was ill enough to need to spend several days in hospital.

The former was unvaccinated from choice, the latter because it was before the vaccine was available.

I read the BBC bit about what he said - he's not ruling it out in the future, which to me sounds like he's happy for the rest of us to be Guinea pigs.

For the avoidance of doubt, I am a very happy vaxxer with confidence in the system that designed and rolled out the vaccinations but I find I mind those opposed for whatever reason to having it themselves considering me their Guinea pigs.

He should have spoken out sooner because his comments came across really well. He's sticking up for his principles even at risk of his tennis career. Good for him!

will - not with.

I agree. He can choose whether to have it or not; but he cannot be so naive as to not be aware that the anti-vax movement with latch onto him as a poster boy. He should keep his lip zipped.

He is young and very fit and unlikely to die of covid - others are not so.