Novak Djokovic swallows another guilty verdict in the court of public opinion as players and coaches test positive from his exhibition tennis event over the weekend.
Embattled world No. 1 Novak Djokovic accomplished something in the past four months I would have thought impossible. He managed to behave so irresponsibly that the public dislike that has dogged him for more than a decade has now morphed into outright disdain–and I can’t believe I’m going to write this, but it’s hard to blame said public right now.
I have long taken the tennis community to task for what I perceived as unwarranted animosity for a great champion. I’ve said that we have been unfair to Novak. As recently as March of this year, I published a column calling his unpopularity unfair and disrespectful. To be honest, I hate like hell that I have to write this entry, but the truth is the truth.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the particulars, the bonfire Mr. Djokovic lit under his reputation this year started with an Instagram Live in which he said (in Serbian) “Personally, I am opposed to vaccination” and went on to say that he would have to make “a decision” if the ATP enforces compulsory COVID-19 vaccination in order to play.
Since I don’t speak Serbian and I figured there was an outside chance he didn’t literally mean he was opposed to vaccines and was victim of misinterpretation, I left it alone.
Not content with just being an anti-vaxxer though, Djokovic had to throw more fuel on the fire. Enter the Great and Powerful Oz–otherwise known as Chervin Jafarieh. Djokovic and Mr. Jafarieh engaged in a truly bizarre discussion on Instagram Live later in the lockdown about how thinking positive thoughts can change water molecules and turn polluted water into fresh water and spoiled food into good food. Now THAT is the power of positive thinking. Throw away your refrigerators and water filters! Food safety need not concern you any longer!
If you’re interested in participating in the water molecule revelation, you can purchase some special potions on Chervin’s website that will help you be smarter AND healthier. Just don’t look behind the curtain.
I wish I was making that up.
And now our current world No. 1 is at least partially responsible for a COVID outbreak at his Adria tour exhibition events that took place across the Balkan peninsula over the past week or so. He threw a player party, encouraged no social distancing protocols–and now Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric, Viktor Troicki and his pregnant wife, and two coaches are all COVID positive.
Djokovic himself left Zadar, Croatia where the other players in the event stayed to get tested. He said he didn’t feel he needed to be tested since he was experiencing no symptoms (I guess he changed his mind, because he was tested in Belgrade on Monday night). I just…don’t even know what to say about that. He could be asymptomatic or worse, pre-symptomatic. It’s beyond comprehension.
Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t absolve any of the players or coaches who tested positive. It’s not all Djokovic’s fault. They elected to not social distance wear masks or take any precautions. They put their grandmas and grandpas at risk. They have culpability for their decisions. But Djokovic is the PRESIDENT OF THE ATP PLAYERS COUNCIL. He is the world No. 1. He has Nick Kyrgios of all people dressing him down for not taking protocols seriously.
It’s just impossible not to be disappointed.
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