Pennetta on future repercussions from Djokovic Australian Open saga: "If he persists in refusing the vaccine, his life will be hell"
Tennis News
A close friend of Novak Djokovic for many years, former Grand Slam winner Flavia Pennetta has weighed in on the Australian Open saga which saw the visa of the World No.1 cancelled multiple times.
Pennetta believes if he persists in his stance to not get vaccinated, it will only lead to problems but that he believes he will stay true to himself.
“Novak Djokovic has always been different in his opinions. From food to dating, Nole is accustomed to very personal decisions, just like his wife Jelena. He should not have challenged Australia, which is known to apply very restrictive entry rules. The great champions have no limit, or else they have great difficulty in recognizing them. Winning is their drug. As a man, he is deeply touched," she said to Corriere Della Serra.
"It must have been an indescribable pain to be ridiculed like this. Novak is certainly a very strong person, but I also know him as a sensitive being. I think if he persists in refusing the vaccine, his life will be hell. However, I think he will stay true to himself, maybe even more than before.!"
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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