He's an unvaxxed, married, heterosexual GOAT with no tattoos and balls of steel. What's not to love?

The political leanings of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic remain a mystery. But that’s totally besides the point. Djokovic, or “Nole,” as his fans call him, is a hero. This is a man who not only talked the talk but walked the walk, taking a stand for freedom of choice and saying “no” to the vaccine mandates. He was prepared to risk everything on principle. Djokovic declined the vaccine, and despite all the governments of the world coming down on him, and despite the consequence of having to forego precious opportunities to compete in and win Grand Slam tournaments which are instrumental to cementing his spot in the annals of tennis history.

Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have dominated Grand Slam tennis past decade and a half. If Federer is known and celebrated for his elegance and effortlessness, and Nadal is known for his sheer athleticism, Nole has distinguished himself with a mental toughness that can almost seem inhuman. The same mental toughness that enabled the young Djokovic to rise to tennis superstardom from war-torn Serbia, and that enables him to come back from seemingly impossible situations in match play, has clearly played a decisive role in his ability to stand tall against the extraordinary pressure brought to bear on elite athletes to submit to the vaccine.

Despite Nole’s sacrifices on behalf of principle — almost unheard of in the professional sports world, Nole managed to clinch an historic and almost unbelievable 24th Grand Slam title at this year’s U.S. Open in New York.

Here is his now legendary exchange with a sports journalist who simply can’t believe his discipline and dedication to principle when it comes to complying with the vaccine mandates:

Novak Djokovic says he is willing to miss further grand slams to avoid Covid vaccination.

Tennis No. 1 tells BBC he's not generally opposed to vaccines, but says "I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body."
Feb16,2022, at 10:58https://t.co/ec3fC49y6m pic.twitter.com/rz4m7rJ3By

— 【ドニャルド共和王国からの便り】 (@0gi6164b38723h) September 12, 2023