Novak Djokovic's BBC Interview

In a long and illuminating interview with the BBC, Novak Djokovic expounded upon a range of issues, culminating in his admission, at last, that he is unvaccinated, and plans to remain so, even if it means foregoing participation at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The interview, conducted by BBC’s Amol Rajan, addressed the most contentious questions surrounding Djokovic’s positive COVID test in December 2021, which allowed him to get an exemption to compete in the Australian Open. Did he know he was infected when he met with children in Belgrade following his COVID test? No. Did he know he was infected when he conducted an interview with L’Equipe a day later? Yes, and that was an ‘error of judgement.’ Did he try to get into Australia by exploiting his fame? No, his application for an exemption was conducted anonymously, and, therefore, fairly. Does he understand why lockdown-weary Australians were resentful of his exploiting a loophole? Yes, he understands.

Other helpful questions were also answered. Though now linked to the anti-vaxx movement, Djokovic has, in fact, received childhood vaccinations; his objection, he says, lies with this particular vaccine, not vaccines in general. ‘I do take COVID seriously,’ he insisted, while simultaneously supporting ‘fully the freedom to choose whether you want to get vaccinated or not.’ As for his status as an anti-vaxx hero, ‘I have never said that I’m part of that movement.’ The movement he seeks to be part of, one assumes, is one in which it’s possible for him to have it both ways.

There were lighter moments—his young son is a Rafael Nadal fan, and wants a photo with Nadal at the next tournament his father plays—and somber ones in which he described confusing days in isolation upon arriving in Australia, his early life in war-torn Serbia, and the many sacrifices his family made to ensure his rise to the pinnacle of tennis.

The most illuminating part of the interview, though—and the most salient to his vaccine aversion—is his unyielding belief in the regimen that allows him to remain atop tennis’ pecking order. Federer and Nadal, no doubt, have their own formulas for remaining competitive for so long; but of the three, Djokovic is alone in being inextricably linked to a holistic health-and-wellness regimen that, by his own admission, is responsible for transforming him as a tennis player. ‘As an elite professional athlete,’ a term he used more than once, ‘I am very mindful of what I put into my body…taking care of my body has always been the highest priority. I’ve always been a great student of wellness; I’ve been very cautious about what I eat, how much I sleep, the air that I breathe, the amount of time that I spend in nature, the environment that I have, the relationships…’

With the Australian Open in the rearview mirror, Djokovic faces possible obstacles to competing in the next major at Roland Garros, where he will once again be defending champion. Asked if he would forego that tournament too, if necessary, he said yes. ‘The principles of decision-making on my body are more important than any title.’ The irony of that stance, of course, is that the very reason for not taking the vaccine—protecting his carefully calibrated physical and mental state—is now the primary threat to his legacy. What’s the point of a competitive advantage if you can’t compete?

Image credit: BBC