No shot, no serve, no-vax Djokovic

Novak Djokovic plays supreme tennis. Novak Djokovic is not an epidemiologist, let alone an epidemiologist who is convinced that Covid vaccine is to be avoided. On the other end of the non-tennis court is Australia, which has revoked his visa on account of him not having met Covid-time visa rules - in his case, being vaccinated. And, thus, we have a classic match in the making. The Djoker was all set to play the Australian Open, which he incidentally won last year. Then Australian authorities refused to play game. A court will decide how game, set and match goes on January 10.

For many theologians, this is a classic case of 'singling out a public figure' vs 'no one, however big shot, is exempt from rules'. Here, our call is Advantage No Exemption. The notion of 'VIP' - and 'VVIP' - usually stops at the border of our subcontinent. In Australia, the Djoker may be the king of the backhand, but Aussies aren't willing to not return anything underhand to where it came from. For some other more hardcore (read: with time to kill from a comfy armchair) theologians, this is a case of punishing someone for their beliefs - Djokovic's being vaccination is bakwaas. Here again, his shot falls outside the line. Number 1 though he is, if he has no shots, he'll have to skip the Aussie Open. Game, booster shot, match, Australia.