Jelena Reveals She Strongly Urged Novak Djokovic Not to Post About Unvaccinated Status Before 2022 Australian Open: “Didn’t Agree With Him”

All hell broke loose when Novak Djokovic announced on Instagram in January 2022 that he would be “heading Down Under with an exemption permission.” He arrived in Australia, which was still under strict COVID-19 restrictions, and was immediately detained at the Melbourne airport.

A lot of things happened. His visa was canceled by the authorities, and he went to court to challenge it; after a lot of drama, he eventually lost the case and was deported.

Djokovic’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, had urged the former World No.1 not to post about his unvaccinated status on Instagram, recalling the scandal in his Prime Video documentary, Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter.

He really insisted on saying out loud that he wasn’t vaccinated, which I didn’t agree with. I said, ‘It’s your choice,’ but please don’t elaborate on it, as there are certain people thinking differently. Immediately when he posted that, all hell broke loose.

Djokovic also revisited that tumultuous period of his life, saying he did not break any rules, and that to travel to Australia, he either had to be vaccinated or, if not, then he had to give evidence that he had coronavirus in the previous six months. As he tested positive twice in those months, he was eligible.

We wrote the caption, and I added that sentence myself. She said, ‘Don’t add it’. I just had to add it. Another reason why you should listen to your wife’s instincts.

Novak Djokovic said

Djokovic, in fact, believes the deportation saga was political and that the government made the decision because it was under extreme pressure. He felt the government did not want a high-profile unvaccinated person like him to come to their country at a time when they were also not allowing other Australians to enter.

The 39-year-old returned to Melbourne the following season and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to win his 10th title in the tournament. At the event this year, Djokovic knocked out two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Greg Rusedski urges the tournament organizers to protect Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic was dealing with physical issues during his three-set upset of Thiago Agustin Tirante in the opening round of the Cincinnati Masters. At the press conference afterward, the Serb revealed he has been dealing with a medical condition that worsens when he competes under extreme heat and humidity.

After his exit, Greg Rusedski asked tournament organizers to have the 24-time Grand Slam champion play at night.

Novak has to be protected. He cannot be playing during the day. He has to be playing in the evenings, from 7 o’clock onwards. He has earned the right to do so. And especially against a young gun like the Argentinian Tirante, who can hit the ball an absolute ton. So, that was a brutal schedule for Novak. I think he will be protected at the US Open, and I hope he continues to play for a long time.

Greg Rusedski said on the Off Court with Greg podcast

Last year at the US Open, Djokovic, a four-time champion in the tournament, lost in the semifinal to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. He clinched his fourth title in 2023.

This year in the Majors, Djokovic lost to the Spaniard in Melbourne, then suffered a five-set defeat to Joao Fonseca in the third round of the French Open. At Wimbledon, eventual champion Jannik Sinner knocked him out in the semifinals. Alcaraz and Sinner’s participation in the New York Slam is uncertain as they recover from injuries.

Also read: Coco Gauff Speaks on Potentially Playing With Carlos Alcaraz in Mixed Doubles