- Saturday, May 18, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
The decision by ace tennis player Novak Djokovic to not to play in the US Open starting Monday (29) over his non-vaccination for Covid-19 has left voices split. While some have appreciated his stance, others were less sympathetic.
US radio host Clay Travis backed the 35-year-old Serbian for sticking to his principles and caring little about the missed chances to win at least two Grand Slams. He also said that there was no justification in keeping Djokovic out of the US and remarked that he “could go down to our southern border and he could cross illegally into this country, and they do not test at all for Covid there”.
Djokovic, who has 21 Grand Slam titles to his credit, announced on Thursday (25) his decision to not take part in this year’s US Open, the year’s final Grand Slam, since he was not able to travel to the North American country because of its mandatory vaccine rules.
Djokovic landed in a massive trouble in Australia earlier this year after he went there to play in the Australian Open. He eventually had to leave the country without playing and was banned from entering it for three years. There was even a diplomatic row between Australia and Serbia over Djokovic.
Travis took to Twitter to post a video where he lauded the maestro for “standing on principle” despite the career losses. He even said that Djokovic’s resolve was something that could not be said about any “woke athlete” over the past 10 years.
“Novak Djokovic gave up a chance at two majors he would have been favored to win over his refusal to get the useless covid shot,” Travis said.
“He actually gave up something by standing on principle, something you can’t say about any woke athlete over the past decade.”
Novak Djokovic gave up a chance at two majors he would have been favored to win over his refusal to get the useless covid shot. He actually gave up something by standing on principle, something you can’t say about any woke athlete over the past decade. pic.twitter.com/NenHrTTpF9
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 26, 2022
The host said had Djokovic not remained firm on his principles, he could have won at least one more Major title, if not two, to become the “greatest tennis player in men’s tennis history”.
“Djokovic would have been the favorite at the Australian Open and he would have been the favorite at the US Open, and at minimum, he’s probably likely to have won at least one of those tournaments. And there would have been a good chance based on the way he’s been playing, that he would win both, which would have made him the greatest tennis player in men’s tennis history, and maybe he could end up with more majors than any man or woman. it’s not crazy to think that that would end up being the result. Instead, he has stood on principle over the benefit,” Travis said.
Among the Big Three in contemporary tennis, Djokovic trails Spain’s Rafael Nadal who has 22 Grand Slam titles. The other one, Roger Federer, has 20 to his credit.
Saying that there was no justification to keep Djokovic out of the US, Travis said, “He could go down to our southern border and he could cross illegally into this country, and they do not test at all for Covid there. Novak Djokovic should be able to play in the US Open, this is not remotely controversial, there is zero health justification for keeping him out.”
“He’s just willing to stand on the principle that the mandates are wrong; God bless him, more power to him,” Travis said.
