Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time, but CNN online is trying to have you believe that his legacy will be “complicated” by his recent COVID-19 drama.
George Ramsay (with contributions from four other CNN reporters) wrote on Djokovic’s COVID “controversies.” Djokovic has recently had to fight the Australian government in court to avoid being deported ahead of the Australian Open after he had been granted a vaccine exemption by Tennis Australia and the Victorian government that was not recognized by Australia’s federal government.
Ramsay goes on to cite Djokovic’s opposition to vaccine mandates, his being “pictured unmasked at events” for two days after he tested positive for the virus in December, and his taking part in a charity tournament with “limited social distancing” and players high-fiving each other as times that “Djokovic’s actions have been questioned during the pandemic.” Journalist Ben Rothenberg claims that “Djokovic’s legacy is massively complicated and getting more so.” Ramsay concludes that he will will be remembered for a complicated, controversial legacy off the court.
That’s doubtful. No one is going to remember Djokovic’s COVID-related controversies in five years, let alone in the decades to come as his legacy is examined. On the other hand, it is quite possible Australians will remember the controversy that occurred when their government embarrassingly attempted to deport the world’s best player. (Then again, maybe Australians will still be under COVID lockdowns decades from now.)
Djokovic is currently tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam Tournament victories of all time. Djokovic is the youngest of the three. He has spent the most weeks as the Association of Tennis Professionals’ No. 1 ranked player (355). Even his legacy in Australia will only mention COVID as a footnote: He has won nine of the last 14 Australian Opens, more than anyone in its history (Federer and Roy Emerson are tied for second with six each).
By the time Djokovic is retired, and his legacy is reflected on, COVID will be little more than a blip in sports history. The obsession with COVID now from media and government and sports officials is already rather silly, given the data we have about vaccinations (Nearly 92% of Australians over the age of 16 are vaccinated). These are not scandals about crimes or performance-enhancing drugs. No one will mention Djokovic’s vaccine hesitancy when discussing his fantastic career.
It is easy to get caught up in the present, especially when we have been living through such an abnormal pandemic. But COVID-related legacies will belong to the politicians who caused high body counts, such as former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. No one years from now will remember or care what any athlete thought about the virus or the vaccine, especially an athlete as accomplished as Djokovic.
