Meanwhile, as recently as a week ago unvaccinated tennis fans believed they were able attend the US Open. ", Earlier, the ATP released a statement, saying, "While we respect everyone's right to free choice, we also believe that each player has a role to play in helping the wider group achieve a safe level of immunity." New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton maintains that his vaccine decision is too personal to discuss. And even Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James, an athlete who has never been shy to voice his opinion on a smorgasbord of social and political issues, chuckled and said, Its not a big deal, after he was asked last May whether he was vaccinated. World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic, who has refused to . While the NFL has yet to to be one of those leagues it, along with the players' union (NFLPA), is pushing for more testing among double-jabbed players amid a rise in breakthrough cases. World No. When Medvedev was asked about Azarenka's comments on vaccine mandates Wednesday, he was noncommittal, saying he understood why the mandate applied to fans. He should know, one would hope, that theres a reason the National Institutes of Health has committed $1.15 billion over the next four years to study the effects of long COVID, defined as a constellation of symptoms that patients experience long past the time that theyve recovered from the initial stages of COVID-19 illness. Symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, sleep disorders, fevers, gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, and depression. For now, the NIH says that long COVID lasts for months; but thats because COVID itself has only been around for months. But he can count me out of it. Boston Red Sox designated hitter JD Martinez would not have gotten to play this year if 85% of his teammates hadnt gotten vaccinated. August 25, 2022 / 12:11 PM / AP. Associated Press Foreign citizens who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are currently unable to enter the U.S or Canada, and Djokovic has said he wont get the shots, even if that prevents him from playing in certain tournaments. 'However I have continued to test positive and thus will not be able to compete in the US Open next week.'. He is No. Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images. Tennis star Novak Djokovic confirmed Thursday he is unable to travel to New York to participate in the U.S. Open this month over his decision to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. "There is a lot of division in society, not only in sports, but in the whole of society, between those who have not been vaccinated and have been vaccinated," Djokovic said a few weeks ago. Sign up for InsideHook to get our best content delivered to your inbox every weekday. Djokovic slipped down the rankings in 2022, as he missed key events due to his Covid vaccine status blocking him from entering key tournaments. A vaccine mandate is inevitable, Azarenka said, and she indirectly called out the tennis tours' lack of action, saying, "We all want to be safe, we all want to continue doing our jobs, and I know there is a lot of discussions about it. That puts tennis far behind other sports. Aaron Rodgers is the most recent famous athlete to make headlines because of being unvaccinated. "It seems pretty low, but it's like telling AFL players right before the finals . There are some athletes, such as the boxer Floyd Mayweather who appeal to individual freedom and others such as tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas who simply refuse to state whether they have been vaccinated or not. Nole - "That's exactly what it is." Do you know this baby? Even though the ATP and the WTA have strongly encouraged vaccinations among athletes, there is no vaccine mandate for athletes to compete at the US Open. Except, these arent opinions. Yueqi Yang. Around 30% of the top-100 men's and women's . Experts like Britton believe the situation is amplified if a high-profile name like Djokovic publicly question the vaccine. We have a silver bullet that can end this crisis. Yet the staff that interact with players - chair umpires, ball kids, the media and security - had already been vaccinated as per USTA requirements. While players don't have a vaccine mandate, it is important to note that some protocols around contact tracing are different for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. The ATP released a statement earlier this week revealing how many of their top stars have . Tennis champion Novak Djokovic is apparently anti-vaccine. The participation of Novak Djokovic and many more top players from around the world is in major doubt after government leaders said tennis players will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 . Heres J.D. . No one has told me anything and no one has made it a mandatory thing to be vaccinated.'. Andy Murray responds to Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek praise: Lot of respect for them, Rafael Nadal will lose the Top-10 after almost 18 years. Novak Djokovic. Read more Australia PM Says 'No One is Above' Rules Amid Novak Djokovic's Detainment Why are football players being held to a higher standard? Novak Djokovic is one of just three players inside the ATP's top 100 who have not been vaccinated. In the Premier League, the top division in the UK, 23% players were not double jabbed or had taken the first dose. Sign up now. This week, the N.F.L. Djokovic is a 35-year-old from Serbia who owns 21 major championships, one behind Rafael Nadal for the mens record. The U.S. Tennis Association has said all along it will follow government rules about vaccination status for this years Open. "My decision to get vaccinated had nothing to do with the Australian Open. "There is a lot of . "[I] don't need it," pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau said recently. As well having a mum with fragile health, he was shocked by the high number of Covid-related deaths in his native Brazil (over 600,000). As long as it's not mandatory, everyone can decide for themselves. Thats a head-scratcher. Yet although as a tennis player Mr Djokovic's vaccine hesitancy is . 25 Jeremy Chardy says he has a "series of problems" after taking the COVID-19 vaccine and his 2021 season is over. Kyrie Irving breaks silence on remaining unvaccinated, Many Premier League players not taking COVID-19 vaccine over conspiracy fears. But why are some elite athletes, some of the world's most health-conscious people, so reluctant to get the jab? Left: All Rights Reserved. 'Fortunately I am vaccinated and thus my symptoms have been fairly mild,' Kenin wrote in the post. Here is why! Several high-profile athletes have expressed their opposition to mandatory vaccination policies and have openly refused to get the COVID-19 jab for different reasons, despite various vaccines being available at the time being. Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold apparently needs more time to evaluate the vaccine. He also was the runner-up there a half-dozen times, including last season, when his pursuit of the first calendar-year Grand Slam in mens tennis since 1969 ended with a loss in the final to Daniil Medvedev. Make your picks and compete for a chance to win $1,000! 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. Its bigger than the game, you know what I mean? Theyre being delivered by men who have been trained by well-compensated handlers to talk in an ambiguous, non-committal brand of pro-sports-guy-ese every single day, whove mastered the art of saying something without saying too much. Having reached the final at the 2021 US Open, Djokovic will lose an additional 1,200 points and his ranking will drop further at the conclusion of the event. Ahead of the U.S. Open, about 50% of players still hadn't gotten the jab. "Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay," Djokovic said in a February interview with the BBC. Play is scheduled to begin at Flushing Meadows on Monday. Tennis players who have yet to be vaccinated for COVID-19 will not be allowed to participate in the Australian Open despite some initial optimism. White House says unvaccinated migrants allowed in US and tennis player who isn't are 'two different things' Thousands of unvaccinated migrants have come into the country under Biden, but . 6 and now 103 - notoriously stated he wouldn't get any shots because he 'wasn't scared' of Covid. 22:02 GMT 02 Sep 2021. Incidentally, Murray has been outspoken about the need for players to get vaccinated. Point being, the best chance leagues across all pro sports have of getting players to get vaccinated has been the continued implementation of common-sense COVID-era measures. Its your life. His club speed is down. There are no tournaments listed on his current schedule on his website. DC Proper Finally Has Its Own Professional Football Team, This Town Is One of the South's Best-Kept Secrets, 21-Year WhistlePig, A Sub-Dial Timex Marlin and the Most Cushioned Hoka Ever, Introducing: The Marathon 46mm Arctic JDD, 21 Dopamine-Inducing Sneaker Deals to Ease You Into the Weekend, The Best Air Purifier for Every Type of Home, Its Your Last Chance to Take $700 off the Mirror, Fullys Sale Is the Home Office Furniture Blowout Youve Been Waiting For. Tsitsipas, speaking at a pre-tournament press conference in Cincinnati, said: 'I haven't [been vaccinated]. Upon his return, he wouldnt confirm that he had ever been vaccinated. As of 6 January 2022, the uptake among the top 100 women . Djokovic is a 35-year-old from Serbia who owns 21 major championships, one behind Rafael Nadal for the mens record. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said his government will not apply for travel permits to allow unvaccinated tennis players to compete at the Australian Open in the state. Todos los derechos reservados. Make Your Picks. Djokovic has spent more weeks at No. Among the other players who will not be at the U.S. Open for various reasons are No. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic, By Darko Bandic, Dusan Stojanovic, Associated Press. He is No. In that same essay, Allen actually praised the efforts of the NFL to get players vaccinated. Djokovic said during a news conference before the US Open that getting the vaccine was a "personal decision," and "whether someone wants to get a vaccine or not, that's completely up to them.". That we fell for discriminating against someone if he wants to decide for himself one way or another, whether he wants to be vaccinated or not.". Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the years last Grand Slam tournament on Twitter on Thursday, hours before the draw for the event was revealed. NFLPA president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter said the decision not to require the injections was done by the league. Heres what he had to say: Going to the Games not only unvaccinated, but as an American, Im representing my country in multiple ways and the freedoms we have to make a decision like that. Im not sure who Andrew thinks hes representing. "Everyone likes to root against Djokovic, he is the bad boy, he is the Joker. The Bayern Munich midfielder has recently admitted that he has not received the COVID-19 vaccine, as he wants to find out whether the jabs cause any issues or side effects. The Olympic Games Australian tennis players Samantha Stosur and Jordan Thompson said on Wednesday (January 5) that Novak Djokovic's announcement that he had received a medical exemption to play at the Australian Open without being vaccinated against COVID-19 was a matter for the governing bodies. Many fans took to Twitter to express anger towards the tennis association for not mandating vaccines for players too, saying unvaccinated pros 'shouldn't be allowed to play'. Among the other players who will not be at the US Open for various reasons are No. But one group didn't have to go through the same protocols: the players and their teams. Not a big deal? 'It's not a loophole for privileged tennis players. Three of Djokovics Slam trophies came at the U.S. Open, in 2011, 2015 and 2018. Under current rules, only unvaccinated players are tested daily, as they were during the 2020 season before the injections were available. 6. 6-ranked Alexander Zverev from Germany and No. He cant explain the science behind why he wont get vaccinated (going toe to toe with an epidemiologist is a little different than doing so with a defensive back), so he falls back on a familiar playbook: yell louder than everyone else in the room whenever someone tries to hold him accountable. Djokovic made the announcement Thursday morning, shortly before the draw was to be revealed, tweeting, "Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. See you soon tennis world! Its a crazy time were living in and I think I understand that. A spokeswoman for the women's professional tennis tour said Wednesday that 85% of the WTA's top 100 players are fully vaccinated; a spokesman for the men's professional tour tweeted late . Unidad Editorial Informacin Deportiva, S.L.U. 1, Medvedev tops Rublev for 3rd straight Dubai title, Paul outlasts Fritz to reach Mexican Open final, Jarry, Munar among semifinalists at Chile Open, Volynets stops Stearns to reach first WTA semi, Fritz def. While people around the globe followed the decision by Australian authorities to detain world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic over Covid-19 vaccination rules, Thiago Monteiro simply carried on with this training for the Australian Open. The 36-year-old has not tested positive for the virus but cannot play in the US Open due to 10-day isolation protocols. Among the other players who will not be at the US Open for various reasons are No. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The email to tennis players claimed fully vaccinated players can arrive any time after December 1 provided they have tested negative in the 72 hours prior to departure. In a statement sent to CNN, a spokesperson for the WTA said nearly 50% of its players are vaccinated, though it has set a target of 85% by the end of the year. Tiafoe, advances to Mexican Open semis, 2nd-seeded Cerundolo ousted from Chile Open, Krejcikova takes down No. Medvedev ends Djokovic's 20-match win streak, Djokovic: 'Surreal' to break Graf record as No. He was also accused of misleading the public about being vaccinated. ", Azarenka called out players on the tour, stating she would understand if the players' opinions were based on heavy research and stats, but said that kind of knowledge is "missing in a lot of players.". They are 1.7 miles . Sabalenka defeated Marketa Vondrousva 6-1, 6-2 in the round of 16 at the Miami Open, setting herself up with a matchup against the world's No. "Absolutely, the visa declaration error was not deliberately made," Djokovic said. This is not ok., But, of course, ridiculing and bullying is exactly what Beasley wants. And there appears to be vaccine hesitancy in English football, with multiple games being postponed due to Covid-19 outbreaks. The country got through the worst of it, they can tell themselves, and they didnt have to bend the knee. While vaccine mandates by health authorities, sport bodies and even teams have helped drive uptake among athletes, Darren Britton warns that it is a solution that can also hamper efforts to have athletes as "ambassadors of the jab". Why are so many people acting like this is some kind of affront to our liberties? "Sadly, I . Barty, 25, said of getting her jab with her coach: 'We were able to get the vaccine, as were a lot of other players, through the Tour and that they had organized through a certain pharmacy that had extras, and that was important to me knowing that those who were the most vulnerable were able to get it first.'. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. . However, NFL staff and coaches must get the vaccinate in order to have access to a player. It came from 22-year-old Michael Andrew, who swam in Americas gold medal-winning 4100 meter medley relay last week. 6 this week, in part because no rankings points were awarded at Wimbledon this year. 'In my opinion its inevitable that it will be mandated at some point like other leagues are doing. "If you want athletes to set the example you really need to try to educate them.". We are encouraged that 97 percent of the Top 100 players are vaccinated leading into this year's Australian Open. Tennis players' approach to the vaccination and how they speak about it has changed several fans' opinions of them. Here's a frustrating fact, courtesy of The New York Times: as the main draw of the U.S. Open kicks off at Flushing's Billie Jean King National Tennis Center today . There is a slim chance the world's No. Chan School of Public Health director and associate professor Joseph G. Allen expressed in a recent opinion column for The Washington Post. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. The Serbian tennis superstar expressed his unease on the labels being put on people according to whether they've decided to get vaccinated or not. And worse than even that, hes dressing mistruths and misdirections in language intended to suggest that hes doing at-risk Americans a service. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File). "I was never against vaccination. And awesome. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "The reason why I was deported from Australia was because the Minister for Immigration used his discretion to cancel my visa based on his perception that I might create some anti-vax sentiment in the country or in the city, which I completely disagree with. By October 2021, more than 60 per cent of ATP and WTA players had taken up the vaccine, and in this same month the Australian government stated that anyone wishing to participate in the upcoming . It is a question that Monteiro himself struggles to answer. 1 Victoria Azarenka said it was "bizarre" that fans have to be vaccinated while players do not. Novak Djokovic will not play in the U.S. Open, as expected, because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and thus is not allowed to travel to the United States. Some were masked, some were unmasked, but all attending were supposed to have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as mandated on Aug. 27 by New York state. On Tuesday, the BBC released its . Unvaccinated tennis players and other athletes are unlikely to get visas to enter Australia, a government official said on Tuesday, putting Novak Djokovic's Australian Open title defence and bid . If we really have the power to influence them, let's make sure it's in a good way. Potapova to reach Austin quarters, Nadal-Alcaraz exhibition canceled with both hurt, Djokovic into Dubai quarters; Rublev advances, Ex-chair ump promoted to US Open tourney ref, Top-seeded Linette ousted in ATX Open 1st round, Berrettini advances in Acapulco; Norrie pulls out, Thiem falls in Chile for third straight loss on clay, Alcaraz out of Acapulco with hamstring strain, Nadal (hip) pulls out of Indian Wells, Miami Open, Azarenka: No vax mandate for players 'bizarre', How Novak Djokovic mastered his few faults to become the GOAT. 3-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece, No. Tennis fans all over the world are eagerly awaiting if Novak Djokovic will be allowed to compete at the upcoming 2023 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells and 2023 Miami Open.. He also was the runner-up there a half-dozen times, including last season, when his pursuit of the first calendar-year Grand Slam in mens tennis since 1969 ended with a loss in the final to Daniil Medvedev. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic will be allowed to play in the Miami Open later this month, even if he does not get the COVID vaccine. 1, Medvedev tops Rublev for 3rd straight Dubai title, Paul outlasts Fritz to reach Mexican Open final, Jarry, Munar among semifinalists at Chile Open, Volynets stops Stearns to reach first WTA semi, Fritz def. Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio have officially asked the US President to waive the vaccination requirement for Serbia's top tennis player so that he can travel there to compete. , updated 2023 BBC. WIMBLEDON, England With the final match looming, this year's edition of Wimbledon has already proven many points. "I don't see any reason for someone of my age to do it," said Tsitsipas, 23. After beating Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final on July 10, Djokovic said he would love to participate in the last Grand Slam tournament of the year at Flushing Meadows, but he also acknowledged, Im not planning to get vaccinated., About three weeks later, Djokovic posted on social media that he was holding out hope of getting the chance to play in the U.S. Open, writing: I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel to US. Theyre caked in reason. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The same rules of close contact do not apply to a vaccinated player. At full capacity, Arthur Ashe Stadium can seat nearly 24,000 fans. This is a big topic [Im] taking some more time to see the data in all of it.. Camila Giorgi enchants Instagram with a cowgirl outfit! 7 in the rankings after the tournament and is currently No. After saying that he was "immunized . While in the NBA and the NFL the figure of fully vaccinated people has reached 90 percent, only around 75 percent of the professional golfers have reportedly received the jab. "The more you try to make something mandatory, the more people will be likely to resist it," says Britton. Itsroutineto get vaccines for all sorts of things. We all want to be safe, we all want to continue doing our jobs,' the vaccinated tennis star added. Many fans took to Twitter to express anger towards the tennis association for not mandating vaccines for players too, saying unvaccinated pros 'shouldn't be allowed to play'. Key Points. Im a healthy, young individual that will continue to work on my health Now as time goes on, if it [the vaccine] is mainstream, really, really mainstream, then yeah.. The majority of anti-vax athletes are just tiptoeing around the point in a half-assed attempt to accommodate their owners, PR teams and sponsorships. NEW YORK (AP) Novak Djokovic will not play in the U.S. Open, as expected, because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and thus is not allowed to travel to the United States. This is the first time international tennis stars faced a vaccine mandate to compete, a requirement that includes not only the grand slam but lead-in events in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Perhaps we should know better by now than to place our trust in athletes. More than half the tennis players at the US Open are unvaccinated, according to Andy Murray,despite the US Tennis Association's (USTA) announcement on Friday that spectators will have to show proof of vaccination if they want to watch the tournament live. I'm trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can," Djokovic explained. For instance: New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge recently had a bizarre stint on the COVID IL list, which wasnt reported as a breakthrough test. That yelling reached a crescendo after his own general manager, Brandon Beane, told the press that he would release players that refused to get vaccinated if it hindered a return to normalcy. So, forgive us, Bryce, if were starting to feel a bit exhausted by all the bullshit. Will It Finally Compete With Football? Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. And awesome. If an unvaccinated player fails to meet these measures, hell be fined $14,650. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. We look forward to welcoming Novak back at the 2023 U.S. Open.. During his interview with the BBC, Djokovic explained why he was really deported. On Twitter, fans shared similar frustrations. That could mean Djokovic giving up on the all-time Grand Slam record. In this case, that would mean players like Djokovic and Tsitsipas listening to doctors and science and getting vaccinated -- for the greater good. . Adam Bettcher / Getty Images. Its bigger than baseball., Heres Sam Darnold, the new quarterback for the Carolina Panthers: Its everyones choice whether they want to get vaccinated or not. 4 Ruud loses to qualifier Daniel in Acapulco, Munar upsets top-seeded Musetti at Chile Open, Volynets def. Despite losing bulk to a bout with COVID-19, Bryson DeChambeau has no plans to get vaccinated any time soon. When he watched Djokovic play Denmark's Holger Rune in the first round on Arthur Ashe, he said he was rooting for Rune throughout -- with Djokovic's vaccine stance playing a part. But Djokovic was forced to withdraw from last week's Western & Southern Open, as he was still barred from entry, as well as the National Bank Open earlier this month due to Canada's similar restrictions. Key points: Of course, DeChambeau isnt the only sports personality living by a different sort of COVID code these days. If thats what it takes for people to sit down for a combined five minutes of shots, so be it. The ATP reported in late October that just 65% of its top players were fully vaccinated, but that has since risen to 95%. January 5th, 2022 12:12 pm. But as sports leagues get going again and start to resemble their usual selves, it makes it easier for vaccine-hesitant and downright anti-vax Americans to pretend that the fight is over. Simon - previously ranked No. Shannon Thaler For Dailymail.Com, Andy Murray out of US Open after coming up just short in epic five-set first round showdown with world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 'It takes Stefanos Tsitsipas twice as long to go the bathroom as it takes Jeff Bezos to fly into space': Still-fuming Andy Murray tweets anger at opponent's '20-minute toilet breaks' after US Open defeat, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Mark Gordon arrives at Crawley Police Station after remains found, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' "So actually, what people probably don't know is that I was not deported from Australia on the basis that I was not vaccinated, or I broke any rules or that I made an error in my visa declaration. But the expert agrees that high-profile dissent against the vaccine is not helpful to the authorities' efforts to drive up vaccination rates. Its vaccinated players who put fans back in the seats. Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, said in July that . Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. It has been a challenging year for Djokovic, who won three major titles in 2021. The other day, Chicago Bears tight end Jimmy Graham complained that he was basically forced into getting the vaccine, citing new daily testing policies. Tonight, a fan can go to a Mets game w/no proof of a vaccine and can be unvaccinated w/o a mask. The WNBA reported 99% vaccination rates, followed by MLS at about 95%, NFL at about 93% and NBA at around 90%. But DeChambeau, a multimillionaire in the public eye, whose living is predicated on constant international travel, is spouting similar Im young, I can handle it nonsense 18 months later. In September 2020, Djokovic was disqualified from the U.S. Open after he swatted away a ball and it pelted a . It would appear, though, that vaccine hesitancy has far less to do with concerns over the arrival of mRNA testing, or the fact that the FDA wont give its final approval to the Pfizer shot until next month. . Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the years last Grand Slam tournament on Twitter on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, hours before the draw for the event was revealed. He was only saying that this is a big decision, a personal decision. The ATP and WTA both released data revealing that only about 50% of tennis players are vaccinated, the least among all professional sports. Djokovic is willing to skip tournaments who introduce mandatory vaccination. But this is since the Australian Open announced its mandatory vaccination policy back in October 2021. Two tennis players who came to Australia on medical exemptions have now left the country following the detention of Novak Djokovic. Ranked number 89, the Brazilian could not really risk being denied a place in the tournament, mainly because he will earn $100,000 in prize money just by showing up to his first round match. The world tennis rankings have been thrown into chaos over the last couple of years and the latest rankings from Universal Tennis suggest the current ATP list is not identifying the game's top players. Some fans took a similar view regarding unvaccinated athletes: They understood it was a personal choice, and did not lose respect for them. 'Given the continuing evolution of the Delta variant and in keeping with our intention to put the health and safety of our fans first, the USTA will extend the Mayor's requirement to all US Open ticket holders,' the statement posted to Twitter read. Djokovic earned his fourth straight trophy at the All England Club last month but received no ranking points for his efforts as a consequence of the ban on Russian and Belarusian players. Fingers crossed!. After Beasley and others throughout the NFL got upset, Beane gave his take on their response: Seems like more of an issue of, I dont want to be told what to do., And thats pretty much what Harvard Universitys T.H. ", He wished luck to his fellow players and said he would "keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. Foreign citizens who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are currently unable to enter the U.S or Canada, and Djokovic has said he wont get the shots, even if that prevents him from playing in certain tournaments. As of 6 January 2022, the uptake among the top 100 women players was 85%. The spokesperson said the . 1 Novak Djokovic says he doesn't want to take the COVID-19 vaccine because he doesn't know what effects it could have on his body.