Sporting icon Martina Navratilova has urged Novak Djokovic to lead by example by taking Covid shots to ensure he does not fall "really sick", admitting that she "couldn't wait" to get vaccinated.
Former world number one Navratilova has watched in horror as Djokovic's saga has played out in Australia, where he was detained for several days because he had not been vaccinated.
The top male player in the world was released by a judge on Monday and now looks set to defend his Australian Open title when the tournament starts on January 17, although reports claim he could still be arrested and have his visa canceled by the country's government.
"It's beyond belief really – what a saga," 18-time Grand Slam title winner Navratilova told Good Morning Britain.
"I just wish that Novak had taken that vaccination to begin with. He's a great leader; he's an amazing, amazing athlete. I've defended him so many times but I cannot defend the choice to not be vaccinated.
"If you don't want that vaccine because you don't know, you don't want it, whatever, you still need to take one for the team. If you want to lead, you need to lead by example. That example would be what's for the greater good.
"All this could have been avoided but here we are and who knows where it will all end up? It's just getting crazier by the minute."
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has claimed that 97% of players have now been vaccinated, but Djokovic, who had previously told people not to take the "liberty" of asking him about his status, confirmed that he has not been jabbed in court documents presented at his hearing.
"We're in such close contact in the locker rooms and you obviously are raising the possibility of getting Covid," rued Navratilova, who lifted the trophy in Melbourne in 1981, 1983 and 1985.
"Also, if you get it, you can get really sick. I was in line and I couldn't wait to get vaccinated. I would have been waiting in line 30 years ago.
"I would be much more scared of getting really sick from not being vaccinated than whatever side effects I might have from the vaccination.
"Billions of people are hoping to get vaccinated and they can't get the vaccination. We have that problem here in the [United] States of many people choosing not to have it.
"You really need to be more aware of everybody else. He is in amazing shape, he's one of the world's greatest athletes so you think you're indestructible.
"But we know people have died who were in amazing shape – marathonners and ironmen and so on. Being in amazing shape doesn't mean that you aren't going to get really sick, so I think he was just maybe a little cocky. I won't say arrogant, but maybe naive thinking he would be ok."
Djokovic is expected to be allowed to remain in Australia as part of a much-publicized medical exemption because he tested positive for Covid in December 2021.
The 34-year-old also tested positive following his ill-fated Adria Tour in 2020, which was held at a time when Covid vaccines were not available and much of the sporting calendar was on hold because of the pandemic.
All-time great Navratilova qualified her criticism by speaking of her admiration for Djokovic.
"I adore him, he's just such a consummate professional," the 65-year-old confessed.
"I don't know what he was hoping for: if he hadn't got the positive test for Covid, how would he have got the exemption? That's what I don't quite get.
"Even if somehow they let him in, I just don't know how he can recover emotionally from this.
"It's just sapping and, as an athlete, you want to save that energy. It's so divisive: there will be people defending him to the death and there will be people who are really, really ticked off."
Djokovic posed on court hours after his hearing and issued a message pledging to play at the first Grand Slam of the year, which finishes on January 30 and could witness history if he wins his 21st major title.