Daniil Medvedev jumps aside Novak Djokovic: "Really liked what he said"
On the sidelines of the ATP 250 event in Moscow, Daniil Medvedev partly sided with Novak Djokovic on the vaccination issue. The Russian also emphasized that the vaccination status is part of his privacy.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 22, 2021, 10:06 am
The 2021 tennis season is not over yet, as the first big highlight of the coming season, the Australian Open in early 2022, is already in the spotlight. Above all with one topic: a possible vaccination requirement for entry down under. According to media reports, around 35 percent of the players on the ATP tour are not double vaccinated at the moment. A status that it will probably need to start at the first major event of the year. In any case, compulsory vaccination for entry to Australia seems quite likely at the moment.
Novak Djokovic also spoke up around this debate. The Serb is considered vaccine-critical, but does not really want to know this topic in connection with himself in public. The industry leader does not want to commit to a start Down Under yet. Whether you are vaccinated or not is part of your privacy, the world number one emphasized recently to the medium Blic. A statement that his first pursuer in the world rankings, Daniil Medvedev, can now gain a lot from.
Medvedev does not want to announce vaccination status either
On the sidelines of the ATP-250 event in Moscow, at which the Russian will not start, but nevertheless gave himself the honor at a media appointment, Medvedev said: "I really liked what Novak said the other day. Tennis is a individual sport, and I never want to divulge medical information because my competitors would then have information about my possible weaknesses, "said the US Open winner this year. "In this case, it should be like that. Vaccination is a personal choice and there is no need to divulge this information, I will not do it."
In any case, he himself will only say that he wants to take part in the tournament, emphasized the number two in the tennis world. The 25-year-old is looking to the future with big goals, as he said in Moscow: "I want to be number one in the world, win more Grand Slams and be among the elite for many years," said Medvedev. Who still has to compete with the big three of tennis - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic - but who could benefit from their advanced age, especially with the former.
"I'm glad that I faced them, and also that I did it when they gradually got older, because it is not that difficult to defeat them," said the Russian with a smile on his lips . Even if Federer and Nadal could not have won any of the big titles this year, the 25-year-old paid homage to the two veterans - and also to Novak Djokovic: "They are the three best in history, 17 or 18 of the last 20 Grand Slams won by them. Like everything in life, their dominance will eventually come to an end, but we must remember that both Rafa and Roger have been injured for most of the year. "