Novak Djokovic's AO Booing Linked To COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal Says Former World No. 1
News
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors has argued that Novak Djokovic's unwillingness to take any of the vaccines available for COVID-19 contributed to his shocking treatment as he left the court at the 2025 Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic opposed mandatory vaccination against COVID-19. Whether one agrees with his position or not, he has principles and is willing to adhere to them regardless of the consequences.
The effect of taking that stand was severe in 2022 when he tried to enter Australia for the season's opening Grand Slam. Djokovic had initially been granted a medical exemption for the event.
However, the Australian Border Force did not allow him into the country, and he was detained for five days. Despite the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia ordering his release, immigration minister Ethan Hawkes used his ministerial powers to have him deported.
Djokovic was booed at this year's Australian Open when he retired after the first of the semifinal against Alexander Zverev with a hamstring tear. Some doubted whether he was really injured, but the 37-year-old posted a photo of his MRI scan that proved the problem existed.
Despite Djokovic playing at the Australian Open three times since, Jimmy Connors outlined on the Advantage Connors Podcast why he believes the 24-time Grand Slam champion taking a stance against mandatory vaccination influenced the crowd booing him.
“It just goes to show it doesn’t matter what you do. No good deed goes unpunished. It is crazy but you know what, I look back over the last number of years and he has done some things."
“He stood up for himself, he thought that is the way it should be done, didn’t meet with the approval of many, many people around the world and that’s something he got criticised for. I am talking about Covid."
Unlike those who booed Djokovic, Connors admires the tennis legend for sticking to his guns and thinks having different attitudes who do not always abide by conventional wisdom is good for tennis.
“And now when something happens like this – I also look and I see that, not everybody can wear the white hat. If everyone wore the white hat and was the good guy, it would be a bit boring to me."
“A little controversy or a different attitude, it doesn’t have to be much, but I always thought that there is one quote that I like, it says, ‘do what you think, say what you want, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.’"
“The emphasis here is that it is never enough, you can push yourself to the brink and be on life support and they would still boo you.I am just going to say this. You have got those people who no matter what are going to have that feeling of, I don’t know if it’s jealousy or what it is, but unless you stay straight down the line, they are always going to get on you.”
While the booing of Djokovic was undoubtedly unfair, it is important to note that those who jeered him were a minority. Many others applauded and cheered as he left the court.
