Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, recently reflected on the Serbian tennis star’s unwavering stance against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. Ivanisevic emphasized how Djokovic was fully prepared to sacrifice his career rather than compromise his personal beliefs.
The Croatian coach recalled the controversial period in 2022 when Djokovic was deported from Australia after refusing to comply with the country’s vaccination mandate for entry. Ivanisevic pointed out that no other elite athlete made such a drastic decision, as Djokovic willingly missed multiple high-profile tournaments, including those in the United States, due to his refusal to get vaccinated.
🚨🇷🇸 Goran Ivanisevic, ex entrenador de Djokovic: Novak se negó a la vacuna, dispuesto a abandonar su carrera, decisión que ningún otro atleta igualó. Mientras el mundo condenó su postura, ahora parece una visión de futuro, tras verse todos sus efectos secundarios. pic.twitter.com/jEDn9Sg8JO
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During that time, Djokovic faced widespread criticism, with many condemning and belittling him for his stance. However, he remained steadfast in his decision, consistently stating that his choice was not an outright rejection of vaccines but rather a personal decision about what he allowed into his body. His concern was ensuring he was completely certain of any medical intervention before accepting it.
Ivanisevic highlighted how Djokovic endured intense scrutiny yet never wavered in his convictions. He mentioned that, in hindsight, discussions have emerged regarding potential issues linked to some vaccines. He also criticized the handling of the pandemic, stating that people were subjected to strict measures and manipulated for years.
At the time of the pandemic’s onset, Djokovic had already secured 17 Grand Slam titles, including eight Australian Open victories. His career trajectory positioned him to potentially surpass Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Grand Slam race, as Federer had reached 20 titles and Nadal 19. Unlike his fellow top players, Djokovic was the only one who openly opposed vaccination.
Ivanisevic reiterated that Djokovic never discouraged others from getting vaccinated. He respected everyone’s choices, even facilitating vaccination opportunities for players during a tournament he organized in Belgrade. Despite this, his personal choice not to get vaccinated subjected him to relentless criticism.
After working together for five years, Ivanisevic and Djokovic parted ways in 2024. Later that year, the Croatian took on a new coaching role with another top player but ended the partnership within a month. The abrupt split followed controversy surrounding the return of a former coach to the player’s team amid allegations of mistreatment.