Novak Djokovic Is Now 'Getting Vaccinated' After Watching Rafael Nadal Win Australian Open

After all the drama at the Australian Open which resulted in him getting deported from the country, Novak Djokovic is finally getting vaccinated.

According to reports in Europe, the world No.1 is now planning on getting the jab after watching Rafael Nadal win his record breaking 21st Grand Slam at Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic's biographer Daniel Muksch, who wrote the book A Lifetime of War about the Serbian star's life, reckons his client is so desperate to compete again that he's willing to backflip on his initial Covid-19 vaccine stance.

"From what I have heard from those around him, I think he is getting vaccinated," Muksch said on Austrian TV station Servus TV.

"Maybe the final in Melbourne also contributed to that. Rafael Nadal's 21 is driving him, no question."

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Djokovic, who became known as "Novax" during his time Down Under, was sent back to Serbia after a string of incidents which stemmed from his vaccination status.

His time in detention and eventual deportation meant he was unable to defend his Australian Open crown, handing fan favourite Nadal the chance to write history.

But even after returning home, it appears Djokovic's chances of actually competing over in Europe are dwindling with French Open and Wimbledon officials standing firm on their stance regarding vaccinated players.

To put it simply: if you're not vaxxed, you don't play.

For Djokovic, though, he has never shied away from voicing his concerns with the vaccine in the past.

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"My issue here with vaccines is if someone is forcing me to put something in my body. That I don't want. For me that's unacceptable," he told the New York Times back in 2020.

"I am not against vaccination of any kind, because who am I to speak about vaccines when there are people that have been in the field of medicine and saving lives around the world?

"I'm sure that there are vaccines that have little side effects that have helped people and helped stop the spread of some infections around the world.

"How are we expecting that to solve our problem when this coronavirus is mutating regularly from what I understand?"

Then, of course, there was his Adria Tour which he launched during the midst of the pandemic, which resulted in a number of high-profile players contracting the virus.

There have been a number of incidents within the space of a few years, ranging from controversial vaccine exemptions, alleged Covid breaches, maskless public appearances and various cryptic statements.

But now, only after witnessing one of his biggest rivals etch his name into tennis' record books, Djokovic seems willing to get the vaccine so he can play.

Topics: Tennis, Rafael Nadal, vaccine, Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, Australia, Covid-19, Tennis, Rafael Nadal, vaccine, Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, Australia, Covid-19

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry