TheCable

Daniel Muksch, the biographer of Novak Djokovic, has claimed that the Serbian will now be taking the coronavirus vaccine.

Muksch, who is a German writer, spoke about Djokovic when he appeared on Servus TV, an Austrian television channel, as translated by Daily Mail.

The biographer, who gained access to Djokovic’s inner circle while working on ‘A Lifetime at War,’ a book on the world number one, claimed that Rafael Nadal’s 21st grand slam victory at the Australian Open — where he was thrown out due to his refusal to take COVID-9 vaccine — spurred the Serbian’s change of heart.

According to Muksch, the Serbian star will have the vaccine so he does not miss out on winning more grand slams.

“What you hear from his environment, I think he’s getting vaccinated,” he was quoted as saying.

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

Djokovic, who has refused to take the COVID vaccine, was prevented from competing at the Australian Open after losing the second visa cancellation appeal case against the country’s government.

The Serbian was also forced to watch — as a spectator from his far-away base in Dubai — how Nadal came back from two set down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the final and overtake both him and Roger Federer in the all-time men’s standings for grand slam victories. 

Nadal now has 21 titles while Djokovic and Federer are both on 20.

Also following the footstep of the Australian government, their French counterparts had recently announced that “there’s no exemption” for unvaccinated athletes at the upcoming Roland Garros.

The declaration means the Serbian may also be banned from competing at the 2022 French Open if he refuses to take the vaccine.