‘When the heat about Novak’s Australian experience cools off, I believe we shall all come to the same bare fact: Novak Djokovic had calculated that with his celebrity status, it was quite possible and feasible to arm-twist the Australian government into kowtowing to his wishes. Unfortunately for him, that decision turned out to be an embarrassing, self-conceited and high-priced unforced error’
Here is a Wikipedia entry for Novak Djokovic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novak_Djokovic]:
“Novak Djokovic….is a Serbian professional tennis player. He is currently ranked as world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Djokovic has been No. 1 for a record total of 356 weeks, and has finished as ATP Year-End No. 1 on a record seven occasions. He has won a joint record 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including a record nine Australian Open titles. Overall, he has won 86 ATP singles titles, including a record 37 Masters events. Djokovic is the only man in the Open Era to achieve a double career Grand Slam and complete a non-calendar year Grand Slam. He is also the only player to complete the career Golden Masters on the ATP Tour, which he has done twice.”
I HAVE referenced Novak Djokovic’s sterling credentials to underscore the esteemed position he has earned for himself in the annals of international tennis circuit. He, most certainly, is a prince of the game. There is no denying that fact. But, it is important to state upfront that I do not belong to his fan base. In my personal view, there is something missing about this tennis prodigy from Serbia. He does not possess the somewhat admirable nastiness of Năstase, Romania’s international tennis icon (Ilie Theodoriu Năstase) or the brazen brashness of US John Patrick McEnroe. Neither does he have the candor, grace and likeable quality of other tennis greats such as Sweden’s Björn Rune Borg or Roger Federer of Switzerland. Novak is just a tiger on the tennis court. Outside, I doubt that he has some character that will compel you to turn around and cast a second look at him. That is how I see him. But, I concede that other people may view him differently.
Whatever prism through which he is seen, Novak has unwittingly turned himself into an apostle of No-Vax, and history may well remember him as such, in spite of his incredible accomplishments on the tennis circuit. True, he believes that he is entitled to his opinion and belief in the idea of not being vaccinated against the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic, a vicious maelstrom that up to January 17, 2022, has led to the deaths of 5,536,609 million people worldwide and has afflicted 326,279,424 million others, according to the World Health Organization (see https://covid19.who.int/). Also true is the fact that Novak has not kept to himself the reasons for his objections to the Covid-19 vaccines. He has openly and actively made it known that the vaccines are not for him, in spite of the fact that he and his wife have been afflicted by the disease.
Let’s go back to June 2020, when the virus was relatively new, with no vaccine to combat it. “Professor” No-Vax organized a tennis exhibition tour that was to be held in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12 to July 5). He rejected all entreaties to call off the Adria Tour 2020, ignoring the fact that Covid-19 was a killer pandemic. It wasn’t until some of the tennis stars and spectators contracted Covid-19 that Novak was forced to cancel the super-spreader event. Fast forward to December 2021. “Professor” Novak yet again paraded himself practically everywhere, even sitting for an interview with a journalist from L’Equipe (French media outfit) on December 18 without disclosing that he had tested positive for Covid-19 a day or two earlier. He was more interested in adding another tissue of fame to his name. Of course, Novak has since apologized for his indiscretion, claiming that “on reflection, this was an error of judgment and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment (interview).” He also apologized for the Adria Tour that he had made an error of judgment. And upon telling a lie on his visa form about his travels prior to entering Australia, he also apologized and blamed his agent for the error.
Who knows whom Novak will also blame for his off-the-court unforced errors for “mistakes” in future? The French Open is due in May. The French parliament has already passed a law barring people who have not been vaccinated (not just testing negative) from public places such as restaurants and sports venues. The French foreign ministry has already made it known that nobody will be exempt from the law. How might No-Vax respond? Wimbledon and the US Open will soon follow. How might Novak attempt to circumvent national regulations against this deadly disease in Britain and the US? Does he plan to bulldoze his way and play tennis in both countries by relying on his celebrity status and ignoring Covid-19 regulations in them?
Not only is No-Vax tarnishing his otherwise brilliant tennis history with his self-advertised obstinacy on the anti-Covid-19 vaccine matter, this attitude might end costing him quite a fortune. Already, news is out that his lead sponsor, Lacoste, is seeking a conversation with him over the blunder in Australia in view of the forthcoming French Open. Other sponsors are also watching with interest. I doubt that these corporate sponsors would want to go down with Novak, should push end in a shove over his recalcitrance on the vaccinations question.
Novak might be an untouchable celebrity in his country, Serbia, but he cannot be above the law in other countries. Unfortunately, he is suffering from the acute disease that appears to torment celebrities around the world; the disease that is called Entitlement. They feel entitled to everything and believe that laws are for ordinary folks. Some tennis mini-stars who came to Australia without appropriately being vaccinated, were also sent packing from the country. But, Novak chose to make his case an international headline. However, I also do not absolve the Australian authorities from how they initially bungled the issue. But, they quickly regained their wits and ordered Novak out because of public safety and health concerns.
Let’s face it. No-Vac is not a scientist. His knowledge about medicine is limited. So, why not concentrate on playing good tennis and remaining the emperor he is on the courts, instead of his ignorant foray into medicine where he is not even qualified to be called a novice? This idea of some celebrities thinking that they know everything outside their tatlents is as disgraceful as it is utter balderdash. Even if Albert Einstein were alive today, it would be foolhardy of him to arrogate to himself the idea that he can teach Novak the abcd of tennis. Novak is only making a mockery of himself to cross over and pontificate on a subject where he manifestly has limited knowledge. Hear how the BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59897918) reported what No-Vax once told an interviewer. While modestly claiming that he was “no expert” on Covid-19 matters, and correctly asserting his legitimate right to be wary of vaccinations, “Professor” Novak Djokovic went on to assert that he was “curious about wellbeing and how we can empower our metabolism to be in the best shape to defend against imposters like Covid-19.”
When the heat about Novak’s Australian experience cools off, I believe we shall all come to the same bare fact: Novak Djokovic had calculated that with his celebrity status, it was quite possible and feasible to arm-twist the Australian government into kowtowing to his wishes. Unfortunately for him, that decision turned out to be an embarrassing, self-conceited and high-priced unforced error.
The good news is that Novak still has an opportunity to do an excellent image repair and earn more global acclaim by being humble enough to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Doing so would send a strong message to anti-Vaxers worldwide that abiding by the prescriptions of tested and verified medical science is the most effective way to halt the spread of this deadly Covid-19. Relying on whims and dreamy solutions will only embolden this pandemic to permanently torment our lives.
*Prof Onyebadi, Assoc. Prof. and Chair of the Journalism Department, Texas Christian University, Texas, USA, is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Naija Times.
