Novak Djokovic

The top men's tennis player — for now — has expressed a desire to be “in tune” with his body that has left him badly out of tune with his sport and the ...

He talked about feeling wounded by the “looks” from his fellow players in Melbourne after he won his initial appeal and practiced on site ahead of the tournament. But though his aim and judgment have failed him rather too often, he is one of the most resilient of modern champions, emerging from wartime Serbia to break up the Federer-Nadal duopoly. Djokovic said he “completely disagreed” with that decision, but unless the rules in France change, Djokovic will not be allowed to play in the next Grand Slam tournament, the French Open, which begins in May. He also may not be allowed to participate in the Monte Carlo Open in April in the tax haven on the French Riviera, where he officially resides. He has overcome many obstacles, some of his own creation, during his long and phenomenal run atop men’s tennis, but this is new territory. France has a presidential election this spring that could lead to a change in government and coronavirus policy and perhaps fling open the gates to Roland Garros. But playing in the U.S. Open, the year’s final Grand Slam tournament, will be problematic with the United States’ ban on unvaccinated foreigners. But the overall Grand Slam record is what glitters most brightly at this stage, and Nadal has 21 major singles titles to Djokovic’s and Federer’s 20. Instead, he was deported after being detained and losing his final appeal, with the Australian government arguing successfully that his presence could risk promoting anti-vaccine sentiment in the country. That approach has him out of tune with his sport and his times. Not after his deportation from that country on the eve of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament. That is considered unlikely based on the criteria, which does not include a prior coronavirus infection. Not after all the drains on his energy and blows to his image.