Novak Djokovic hopes Covid vaccine won’t be compulsory for tennis players

The ATP have drawn up an exemption list for players who have been vaccinated

Novak Djokovic hopes taking a Covid vaccine won’t be made mandatory to compete on the ATP tour.

The ATP issued new guidelines earlier this month saying players who have been vaccinated would not be considered a close contact of anybody testing positive.

The governing body of men’s tennis also drew up an exemption list for players who have been vaccinated.

Both the ATP and the women’s WTA recommended players accept vaccine shots when available.

Djokovic claims there are “a lot of options in terms of vaccines” but still a lack of clarity on whether they would be compulsory.

“I don’t think it’ll come to that. I hope not, because I’ve always believed in freedom of choice,” he said when asked at the Serbia Open if he had been vaccinated.

“And I will keep the decision as to whether I’m going to get vaccinated or not to myself, it’s an intimate decision and I don’t want to go into this game of pro and against vaccines, which the media is unfortunately creating these days.

“I don’t want to be labelled as someone who is against or who is for vaccines. I’m not going to answer the question... and hope that everyone will respect that.”

Djokovic, who tested positive for Covid-19 last year, had previously said he was personally opposed to vaccination and would not want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel.

Reuters