- Novak Djokovic won the US Open after beating Daniil Medvedev in straight sets
- Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier took to social media to praise his victory
- Le Tissier joked he was surprised by the display due to Djokovic’s jab stance
Matt Le Tissier praised Novak Djokovic’s US Open triumph before sarcastically joking he was surprised by his dominant performance due to his vaccination stance.
Southampton legend Le Tissier has been an outspoken figure in recent years and openly peddled controversial conspiracy theories in interviews and on social media.
Among his claims were that PCR tests ‘were the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on mankind’, dying Covid patients in Italy ‘were actors’ and that the government’s alleged interference in people’s lives during lockdown was an ‘injustice’.
More recently, Le Tissier, who lost his job on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday in August 2020 after an overhaul and quit as an ambassador for former club Saints, appeared to suggest that the media have lied about the unfolding horrors in Ukraine.
Djokovic has also publicly rallied against mandatory vaccinations and said he would rather miss out on future trophies in tennis than be forced to change his jab status.
Novak Djokovic won the US Open to clinch a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title
The Serbian superstar cruised beyond Daniil Medvedev in straight sets at Flushing Meadows
Matt Le Tissier praised Djokovic’s display but used the result as an excuse to make a Covid jibe
The Serb clinched a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title by winning the US Open after beating Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, triumphing 6-3 7-6 6-3.
Reacting to the result on Monday morning, Le Tissier posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘Amazing performance by @DjokerNole. I don’t know how he continues to perform at that level without being vaccinated! Doctors are baffled.’
Djokovic was able to compete at Flushing Meadows this year after the United States government ended its Covid vaccination requirements for international travellers.
One of the most high-profile athletes not vaccinated against Covid, Djokovic was forced to miss the same tournament in 2022 due to his vaccine status.
He also missed the Australian Open in 2022 and was deported for a similar reason. Despite obtaining a medical exemption after recently recovering from Covid, the country’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, personally cancelled his visa.
Djokovic (right) was prevented from playing in the US Open last year due to his jab status
Le Tissier has rallied against enforced vaccination and publicly shared conspiracy theories
Le Tissier (second left) was a regular on Soccer Saturday and worked for Sky for 15 years before he, Phil Thompson (second right) and Charlie Nicholas (right) were axed in 2020
Djokovic confirmed he’d had vaccines as a child but said: ‘I was never against vaccination, but I’ve supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.’
After the easing of restrictions in Australia later in 2022, however, Djokovic took part in and won the 2023 edition to equal Rafael Nadal’s tally of 22 grand slam titles.
In April 2020, he had issued a statement saying: ‘Personally I am opposed to the vaccination against Covid-19 in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, I will have to make a decision whether to do it or not.’
Months later, he and his wife tested positive for Covid after a series of exhibition matches he organised without social distancing or face coverings.
In January 2022, Djokovic was aware he had tested positive when he attended an interview and photoshoot at his tennis centre in Serbia, and later admitted he had made an ‘error of judgement’ after failing to place himself into isolation.
Jeff Stelling (left) and Le Tissier (right) clashed on social media after the latter shared a conspiracy theory about 9/11. The pair worked together for years on Sky’s football coverage
Le Tissier has rejected his ‘anti-vax’ label, instead insisting he is ‘very sceptical’. He has, though, admitted his family and close friends thought he had ‘gone a bit mad’.
He was recently embroiled in a brief spat with his former Sky Sports colleague Jeff Stelling after sharing a 9/11 conspiracy post on social media last week.
Taking to his personal account, Le Tissier reposted a thread on X comprising 25 sickening posts, all of which questioned the legitimacy of the tragic event.
Le Tissier’s long-standing punditry partner, Stelling, quickly issued a response that read: ‘Yes Tiss total and absolute b*******’. The post was quickly deleted.
Stelling then followed up his initial response with a standalone post which read: ‘Sorry if there was any ambiguity. I disagree with Tiss 100 per cent’.
