“Is it right for Djokovic to participate? Absolutely not”

The return of Novak Djokovic to the tracks is already a reality, but his controversy does not diminish. While the Dubai public vibrated with his victory against Lorenzo Musetti (“¡Nole, Nole!”was heard in the stands), in Italy the tension for his possible participation in the Rome Masters 1,000 increased. There is an open political war about it and, little by little, actors are joining. The last one, Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), resounding with his refusal to the possible presence of the Serbian tennis player. “Is it correct for Djokovic to participate in Rome? Absolutely not”he affirms in statements collected by The Gazzeta dello Sport. To which he adds: “I receive emails every day from mothers and fathers who are angry that their children cannot play sports due to the COVID passport rules.”

The last idea exposed, in line with what was expressed by Andrea Costa, Italian Undersecretary of Health. “The rules must be respected by all while they are in force. Those who have many followers can help us with this and they have even more reasons to set a good example”, assured the national politician during the weekend. His words were addressed, very directly, to Valentina Vezzali, Undersecretary of Sports, who, in the first instance, had opened wide the doors of Roma the 20-time Grand Slam winner.”For him, as for all people on Italian soil, the regulations in force in our country are valid. The complete vaccination schedule is not required to play outdoors in an individual sport without contact”, he assured in the statements that, by temporary order, have unleashed the political storm. One that, surely, was inevitable and that is fully developing in public, in full view of the world.

Malagò, without going any further, also responds directly to Vezzali in his words. “If Djokovic came to play in Italy, yes, by not having the guideline, he could not sleep in the hotel, he could not go to restaurants or use public transport …”, qualified Italian politics. “Admitting it and making him shower, eat and sleep is just a message that is very bad,” replies the highest authority of the CONI. The debate, which seems complex and tricky, will continue. Like Djokovic in Dubai, where he faces Karen Khachanov in the round of 16 (not before 4:00 p.m. Spanish time) and where a lot is played: Daniil Medvedev, who competes in Acapulco, has a chance of snatching the world number one from him. The ranking does not rest and neither does his case.