"I was always pro freedom to choose": Djokovic says he was never anti-vax, adds he felt like he was 'a villain of the world'

ATP
Wednesday, 13 September 2023 at 22:30
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Novak Djokovic, fresh off his triumphant win at the 2023 US Open, has vehemently denied any claims of being anti-vaccine.

These past few weeks have been nothing short of golden for Djokovic at Flushing Meadows, where he clinched his 24th Grand Slam title and emerged from the tournament as the new world No. 1, displacing Carlos Alcaraz, who fell in the semifinals to Daniil Medvedev.

In the final showdown, Djokovic secured a resounding victory against the Russian powerhouse Medvedev with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3. It was a sweet redemption for the Serbian, a stark contrast to their encounter in the 2021 US Open final when Medvedev claimed his maiden Grand Slam.

Djokovic recently engaged in a conversation with John McEnroe during an interview on McEnroe's Places podcast. He addressed the challenges he faced gaining entry to tournaments, including the 2022 US Open, due to various countries' vaccine-related restrictions.

Djokovic clarified his stance, stating, "I was never anti-vax; I was always pro-freedom-to-choose. And that's something that we took for granted. I didn't feel like a lot of people had a choice, really. I just wanted to compete, and I wanted to play tennis because that's what I do best."

Djokovic's monumental win also drew him level with Margaret Court as the two tennis titans with the most Grand Slam victories in history, both boasting an impressive 24 titles. This achievement places them ahead of the likes of Serena Williams and Steffi Graf, who have 23 each, and Rafael Nadal with 22.

Following his US Open victory, Djokovic made his way to Valencia to represent his country in the Davis Cup. There, he is set to face Alejandro Davidovich as the top singles player for their respective nations.

The Serbian superstar, having recently attended his brother Djordje's son's christening and celebrated his country's success at the US Open, was spotted in the company of his physiotherapist, Miljan Amanovic, and his brother Marko.

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