Novak Djokovic’s costly vaccination ‘bill’ due date has arrived

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic’s vaccination refusal is proving to be more costly than the Serbian could have ever dreamed of.

Novak Djokovic in Dubai this month. Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP.

Novak Djokovic bought the ticket and now is taking the ride.

The 22-time grand slam champion on Monday had his No. 1 ranking ripped from him by Carlos Alcaraz after the Spanish teenager put on a masterclass in his Indian Wells final thrashing of Daniil Medvedev.

The ATP 1000 victory is enough for Alcarez to take back the crown — and he has done so with Djokovic watching helplessly on the other side of the globe.

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Djokovic, barred from entering the United States because he hasn’t been vaccinated against Covid-19, sat out Indian Wells and will miss the Miami Open starting this week.

The only good news for he Serb is that Alcaraz will have to successfully defend his Miami title over the course of the next two weeks to keep the throne he now occupies.

Right now, however, Djokovic is paying the heavy price for his highly-publicised refusal to get the jab.

It’s been a tough 15 months. Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP.

Leading tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg said Djokovic was always going to pay a high price — on top of being prevented from competing at the 2022 Australian Open and 2022 US Open.

The American reporter posted on Twitter: “It was 100 per cent Djokovic’s decision not to make himself able to play in America for the last year’s (Indian Wells tournament) by staying unvaccinated.

“Djokovic said in 2022 that said missing tournaments was “the price I’m willing to pay” for staying unvaccinated. That bill has come due this month.”

Rothenberg also lamented the unique circumstances that have resulted in Djokovic and Alcaraz fighting for the No. 1 ranking despite not even competing in the same tournaments.

“This thing where Alcaraz and Djokovic trade the #1 ranking back and forth while not at the same tournaments is pretty anticlimactic, gotta say,” he wrote.

“Hopefully they face off plenty in Europe.”

They will finally be competing on the same courts when the Monte Carlo Masters begins from April 9.

Not a crown, but it will do. Photo by JULIAN FINNEY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

Djokovic famously said last year he understood the consequences of skipping grand slam tournaments at a time when his battle for historical grand slam supremacy with Rafael Nadal is burning hot.

“Yes, that is the price that I’m willing to pay,” he told the BBC.

“I was never against vaccination, but I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.

“I understand the consequences of my decision. I am unable to travel to most tournaments at the moment.”

As a result of his stance, Djokovic has been unable to potentially compete in eight major tennis tournaments, something Tennis 365 recently estimated to be worth up to $11 million in prize money.

Alcaraz’s performance on Monday in wiping the floor with Medvedev has left tennis fans salivating at the eventual showdown between Djokovic and Alcaraz.

The 19-year-old demolished Medvedev 6-3 6-2 in just 71 minutes.

The Russian was red-hot coming into the final — his fourth ATP Tour final in just five weeks — but looked out of his depth against the Spaniard

Out of this world. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images.

The tennis world was left in awe of Alcaraz.

“An absolute master class thus far from Carlos Alcaraz,” Patrick McEnroe wrote on Twitter.

New York Times tennis reporter Christopher Clarey wrote Alcaraz’s court craft was in an “elite club” after watching him toy with Medvedev in one marathon rally.

American tennis commentator and coach Brad Gilbert wrote he was “so impressed” with Alcaraz’s ability to dominate in every facet of the game.

“His game is off the charts,” he said.

This level from Alcaraz is beyond!! 🔥👊🏽

— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) March 20, 2023

After also claiming the Miami Open in 2022, Alcaraz becomes the youngest player to win the Sunshine Double.

According to tennis journalist Jose Morgado, Alcaraz is also the second youngest winner at Indian Wells, behind only Boris Becker.

Djokovic, meanwhile, had applied for a waiver from the US government to enter the country, particularly with restrictions set to end in May.

According to reports, his request centred on a declaration he has contracted the virus on two previous occasions, filing for a medical exemption on that basis.

The only good news for Djokovic is that he will likely be free to play the 2023 US Open, beginning August 28.

Djokovic won his 10th Australian Open crown. Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP

The US’ stance has been panned by pundits and tennis stars, including US political comedian Bill Maher.

Maher said on HBO’s ‘Real Tim with Bill Maher’: “Imminent danger? Of a man playing tennis? Of a man who has had it twice?

“He’s standing alone. A sport where you stand alone in the middle of a stadium, outside, in a country where everyone has already had it. No imminent danger? This country is stuck on stupid, it just is.”

Djokovic’s vaccination status saw him deported from Australia shortly before the 2022 Australian Open. After winning Wimbledon he also missed the US Open last year because of the travel restriction.

He returned to Australia in January, winning the 2023 Australian Open for a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam singles title.

Originally published as Novak Djokovic’s costly vaccination ‘bill’ due date has arrived