"I don't feel like I'm a threat to others," pleads Novak Djokovic

Committed to the ATP 500 in Dubai this week, Novak Djokovic has so far made a successful return to competition.

On Wednesday, he dominated the Russian Karen Khachanov in two sets (6-3, 7-6) and validated his qualification for the quarter-finals, where he faces the Czech Jiri Vesely on Thursday.

A little over a month after the endless soap opera of the Australian Open, the 34-year-old Serb explained, in an interview with the newspaper L'Equipe, the reasons for his refusal to be vaccinated.

"Based on all the information about the vaccine, I have decided not to get vaccinated," said the world number one.

This is my position.

Will it change or not?

I don't know, everything is changing quite quickly, we see it in the decisions of certain governments.

Right now I don't feel like I need it to protect my body and I don't feel like I'm a threat to others.

Whether you are vaccinated or not, you can still transmit the virus.

This is my position and, for the rest, my mind is completely open.

Everything is possible.

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“I must also preserve my integrity and my autonomy”

Novak Djokovic, who could say goodbye to his dream of becoming the most successful Grand Slam player in history (he has 20 titles like Roger Federer while Rafael Nadal has just won his 21st in Melbourne), explains his choice by his desire to preserve his body.

“It's my tool, my main asset,” he says.

As a top athlete, I need to take care of it to be competitive and consistent.

And, throughout these years, I thank with great gratitude this body for all the successes I have had, because I was able to recover very quickly after so many very difficult matches.

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Beyond the need to preserve his body, Djokovic wants his decision to be respected and does not understand the attacks he is the victim of.

“I do not affirm anything, I am not a doctor, an expert, he advances.

I do not like those who impose.

Yes, I have an open mind, but I must also maintain my integrity and my autonomy.

Because no one on this Earth knows my body better than I do.

I want to be the sole owner of my body.

If I don't have sufficient understanding of my body, it's as if I'm giving autonomy to someone else.

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