Novak Djokovic’s coach addresses claims that Serb is ‘anti-vax leader’ – Tennis World USA

Coach Goran Ivanisevic insists Novak Djokovic is definitely not some kind of anti-vax leader and reveals that the Serb has never told anyone around him not to get vaccinated. Djokovic, 35, hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 and he has received lots of criticism over the last two years because of his vaccine views.

Some are going as far as labelling Djokovic as “anti-vax poster boy” and accusing him of inspiring anti-vax sentiment. “I respect and appreciate him, he made a decision that he will not change,” Ivanisevic said.

“When they proclaim him to be a leader, to have a bad influence on people, that is wrong. He doesn’t want to get vaccinated, he doesn’t want to put it into his body, and he never told others not to get vaccinated.

I respect and support his decision. I hope these decisions are reversed, people infected in Australia, Roland Garros and Wimbledon and nothing to anyone. There are so many contradictions, I was vaccinated, it’s not a problem for me, but for two and a half years they terrorise us, when you’re infected it’s like you have scabies, they throw you and the team out.

We were on the wall of shame.”

Ivanisevic not optimistic Djokovic will play at the US Open

As per the current United States vaccine laws, foreigners entering the country have to show the proof of vaccination. When asked about Djokovic’s chances of being allowed to compete at the US Open, Ivanisevic jokingly said his chances of winning Umag are bigger than the Serb’s of playing at Flushing Meadows.

“I am more optimistic that I will win Umag than that they will let him to the US Open,” Ivanisevic said. Earlier this year, Djokovic flew to Australia after being granted a special medical exemption. Everyone knows extremely well how that turned out and Djokovic has said several times in recent weeks that he doesn’t want the Australia visa saga to happen to him again, just this time in a different country.