The former coach of Novak Djokovic fears that the tennis star will look back on his career in the future and regret what he has done if he does not get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Djokovic is currently in isolation at a quarantine hotel in Melbourne after his visa to enter Australia was refused by officials. On Wednesday the 20-time Grasnd Slam champion was taken into questioning by border officials who deemed his reason to enter the country failed to meet the right criteria. It is understood that the Serbian applied for a medical exemption to play at the Australian Open on the bases that he tested positive for COVID-19 within the past six months and had to defer taking a vaccination. It is also believed that he filled in the incorrect visa.
However, there are doubts over the process with Tennis Australia under scrutiny over their management of the situation. A leaked letter emerged yesterday from a government official telling Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley that having the virus over the past six months and not being vaccinated isn’t an adequate reason for allowing people to enter the country. This letter was sent back in November. Djokovic’s lawyers have now launched a legal appeal to overturn the Visa refusal with a court hearing set to take place on Monday.
Weighing in on the situation, Becker says he believes the Serbian is making a ‘big mistake’ in not having the vaccination. Djokovic has refused to publicly confirm his vaccination status but he has previously expressed his concerns.
“On this occasion, I think he is making a big mistake in not getting vaccinated,” Becker wrote in a column for the Daily Mail. “It is one that threatens what remains of his career and his chance to cement himself as the greatest player of all time.
“Four times I sat in his box as he won the Australian Open, so I am fully aware of his great strengths as an incredible competitor. I also think he has a great character that can easily be misunderstood.
“Yet these strengths can also be weaknesses. The same incredible determination which I saw win so many close matches can be a vulnerability with his stubbornness.”
Becker is a former world No.1 and six-time Grand Slam champion who worked with Djokovic over a three-year period. He says the tennis star is ‘like family’ to him but admits they have very different views when it comes to COVID-19.
“He is incredibly strong-willed, with very firm beliefs. If he does not, then in 10 years he will look back on it and realise he made a mistake,” he said.
“It is not just about Australia. The fact is that we are living in a different world and he is going to find it very hard to live the life of a professional tennis player travelling around without the vaccination.
“Those are the rules, whether one likes them or not.”
It has emerged that at least three other players have been able to enter Australia using the same medical exemption as Djokovic, according to Reuters News Agency. It has also been reported that it is possible others could arrive in the country in the coming days with the same exemption. The Australian Border Force is already looking into the cases of at least two individuals. Each case differs depending on the amount of evidence which is provided in the Visa application.
Tennis Australia says a total of 26 medical exemptions was applied for but only a ‘handful’ was approved.
The Australian Open will start a week on Monday.
