Tennis superstar’s anti-vax paranoia could cost him his legacy

Imagine being so warped and indoctrinated by anti-vaccine conspiracies that you are willing to let a chance at sporting immortality – becoming the greatest tennis player who ever lived – slip away because of your bizarre fear of a needle.

Such is the case with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, someone who is “oh so close” to becoming the most decorated and winningest player in history. Currently he has 21 Grand Slam titles, good for second on the all-time list. He trails Rafael Nadal, who owns 22 Grand Slam titles.

This is how crazy Djokovic is. He was tied with Nadal with 21 Grand Slam titles each, but Nadal passed Djokovic when Nadal won the 2022 Australian Open. Djokovic could have competed in the Australian Open and could have taken the all-time lead, but wasn’t allowed to enter the country because he is unvaccinated and therefore poses a clear and present danger to the citizens of Australia.

So rather than take a little needle, rather than get vaccinated, rather than follow the science and do what billions of people have done around the world, Djokovic decided to skip the Australian Open, thereby missing a chance at tennis glory because of his unscientific fears about a tested and effective vaccine.

Fast forward to this week, where the final tennis Grand Slam of the year is happening, the U.S. Open.

It presents a great opportunity for Djokovic to win, tie Nadal with the most career Grand Slams of any player in tennis history, which would set the table for Djokovic to be the best tennis player ever if he then went on to win a 23rd Grand Slam.

But the “joker” as he is called, won’t be playing in the U.S. Open because – you guessed it – he’s still unvaccinated and the United States won’t allow him into the country because he – you guessed it – still presents a clear and present COVID danger to people.

Think about that. Tennis immortality is completely within his grasp, but he would rather put that glorious chance at tennis immortality on hold and risk it getting out of his reach (if Nadal keeps adding to his total), because of some cockamamie, ignorant beliefs about COVID vaccines.

Don’t feel sorry for the joker. He’s won 21 Grand Slam titles, 84 tournaments around the world and amassed a fortune of $150,000,000 in prize money throughout his illustrious career. It’s not like he’s a fringe player who desperately needs money.

He’s a player with fringe beliefs and boatloads of money.

He won’t suffer financially because of his COVID paranoia but he could suffer something that no amount of money on earth can buy — Sporting history.

I actually feel sorry for the guy.

The label “greatest tennis player in world history” is there for the taking but he’s allowing his conspiracy beliefs and ignorance to block that very real dream. That’s the definition of self-sabotage.

Imagine a hockey player or baseball player or football player or track athlete or any top-ranked athlete in the world willingly give up a chance to become the greatest ever in her or his sport simply because they believe in scientific quackery.

It’s impossible to imagine because it doesn’t make any sense.