Novak Djokovic vaccination decision is 'terrible for tennis, not good for him', says Grand Slam champion Pam Shriver

Pam Shriver says Novak Djokovic’s continuing refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19 is “terrible for tennis”. World No 1 Djokovic did not play at last month’s Australian Open, having been deported from the country in a row over the medical exemption which was meant to allow him to compete despite being unvaccinated.

Ad/> He has said that he is willing to skip future tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon, if it means he does not have to get jabbed. TennisWhat next for Novak: Can Djokovic play French Open and Wimbledon without vaccination?36 MINUTES AGO Former world No 3 Shriver told the BBC: “I hope that the right trusted person, who is an expert in science and medicine, probably would have to be a Serbian, can sit him down and show him, and walk him through all of the steps that make the science and the medicine trustworthy and safe to put in his body.

“Because it’s terrible for tennis, not good for him – and, really, he does lead by example. The fact that he doesn’t trust it, it does lead a lot of people, in his home country and throughout the world.” Djokovic did not rule out having the vaccine in future, but also said he hoped vaccination requirements for tournaments would change.

Djokovic willing to skip tournaments rather than get vaccine 'She's like Federer' — Barty lauded by WTA rivals As it stands he is unable to travel to the USA to compete in tournaments such as Indian Wells, the Miami Open and the US Open, and may miss the French Open in May. “Obviously he is standing really strong to his principles that anything he puts into his body might hurt his body and not make it at an optimum way for one of the greatest athletes this planet has seen over the last 15 years,” added 22-time Grand Slam