Five BIG Novak Djokovic controversies: From accidentally hitting a female line judge to vaccine hesitancy
Novak Djokovic is not new to controveries. Over his long playing career, he has said and done things which ignited a debate.
World No 1 player Novak Djokovic is in news for all the wrong reasons. He arrived in Australia almost 24 hours ago but was stopped at the Melbourne airport after some visa-related issue came up. Later it was revealed that he was asked to leave country as he was not qualified for vaccine exemption which was earlier granted to him. The tennis star remained in Australia after his lawyers launched an appeal seeking to overturn the federal government decision, reported Reuters.
This is not the first time the Serbian is in news for all the wrong reasons. We take a look at some controversies around him.
Not taking the jab!
Djokovic has since long maintained his stand on vaccine. That he hopes it is not mandatory for players to take in order to travel across the globe for tennis events.
He had said this early last year: "It's an intimate decision, and I don't want to go into this game of pro and against vaccines, which the media is unfortunately creating these days. I don't want to be labeled as someone who is against or who is for vaccines. I'm not going to answer the question ... and hope that everyone will respect that."
In September 2020, he again said that he has freedom of choice over taking/disclosing his vaccine status.
In a nutshell, his failure to get vaccinated/disclose his vaccine status has resulted in him getting stuck in Australia.
(Source: Twitter)
Comments on changing polluted water to healing water
Djokovic came under fire for his comments on changing the toxic water into healing water through 'power of prayer'. In a conversation with 'wellness guru' Chervin Jafarieh, the tennis star had said: "I've seen people and I know some people that through energetical transformation, through the power of prayer, through the power of gratitude, they manage to turn the most toxic food or the most polluted water, into the most healing water. Because water reacts and scientists have proven that molecules in the water react to our emotions to what is being said."
Former player Mary Carillo had said that she hopes Djokovic would take back his words as this could turn out to be dangerous for others.
(Source: Twitter)
Before the start of Australian Open 2021, Djokovic sent a list of demands to be fulfilled that included reduction of quarantine period upon arrival in Australia, the ability for players to see their coach or trainer, and as many players as possible moved to private houses with a tennis court to facilitate training. He was heavily criticised for such unreasonable demans during COVID period. (Source: Twitter)
Organised a tennis tour during pandemic
Disqualified for hitting a female line judge
This was at the 2020 US Open. In the last-16 match against Pablo Carreno Busta, he accidentally hit a female line judge. It was a result of his frustration for dropping a serve. The ball hit the line judge in the throat. Djokovic apologised for the mistake but he was disqualified from playing further in the grand slam event.
(Source: Twitter)
