Rafael Nadal: "Then Djokovic must be vaccinated"
Rafael Nadal spoke to a Spanish daily about Novak Djokovic's vaccination comments.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 11, 2020, 11:09 am
Djokovic had said a few weeks ago that he did not yet know whether he would like to be vaccinated against the corona virus if there was to be a vaccine in the future. "Personally, I'm against vaccinations. I don't want anyone to force me to take a vaccine to travel," said the world number one on Facebook. But who is aware that in the end he will have to make a decision.
Rafael Nadal agrees. The 19-time Grand Slam Champ made it clear to the newspaper La Voz de Galicia that "nobody can ask anything from anyone". But if you belong to a tour, you have to follow the rules. "And if the tour prescribes a vaccination to protect everyone, then Djokovic has to be vaccinated if he wants to play tennis at the highest level again. Just like me. Everyone has to comply. If the ATP or the ITF forces us to have a vaccine to play tennis to get, we have to get it. "
This also applies to other requirements. "Like we have restrictions on medication to meet anti-doping requirements, it is about following the rules."
Djokovic and the water thing
Djokovic recently caused a sensation with his "guide" Chervin Jafarieh through several Instagram videos. In one they spoke of such positive thoughts that could even transform poisonous water. "I know some people who, through energetic transformations, through the power of prayer, through the power of gratitude, have transformed the most toxic food or perhaps the most toxic water into the most healing water because water reacts. Scientists have proven that the molecules in the water react to our emotions, to what has been said, "said Djokovic.
Several tennis experts expressed indignation at Djokovic's statements and referred to his responsibility as the world's best tennis player with a correspondingly wide reach. "There is real responsibility as the world's number one, and part of that is respecting science and objective truth," said journalist, author, and tennis expert Jon Wertheim.