DoubleChecks

What was claimed

When Djokovic was seen without a mask and not social distancing, she claimed that he didn't believe in the sanctity of science. When Djokovic refused the vaccine (after already having Covid), she said it would cost him his personal legacy.

Our verdict

Needs caution

Novak Djokovic is male and uses he/him pronouns. Multiple reliable sources consistently refer to him with male pronouns. Available coverage shows Djokovic himself acknowledging that refusing the COVID-19 vaccine could negatively affect his legacy and that he was willing to pay that price. However, there is no clear, attributable source showing that the same woman specifically said his refusal "would cost him his personal legacy," so this quote cannot be confirmed or directly refuted.

2 of 3 AI systems agree15 sources citedChecked Aug 20, 2026

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Key findings

Djokovic is referred to as 'she' throughout the statement

Incorrect99%
1 AI checked

When Djokovic refused the vaccine (after already having Covid), she said it would cost him his personal legacy.

Can’t verify48%
All 3 AIs agree

Djokovic refused the vaccine after already having Covid.

Verified85%
All 2 AIs agree

When Djokovic was seen without a mask and not social distancing, she claimed that he didn’t believe in the sanctity of science.

Verified93%
2 of 4 AIs agree·Claude: Can’t verify, ChatGPT: Can’t verify

Verified against 15 sources

abc.net.ausportskeeda.comyoutube.comespn.comreuters.comyoutube.comnytimes.comyoutube.combbc.compolitico.eusciencemediacentre.orgfoxsports.com.autf1info.frpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govespn.com

Detailed Analysis

The quote about not believing in the sanctity of science is directly supported by a specific televised interview. The claim that "she" said his vaccine refusal would cost him his personal legacy cannot be verified in available sources. Because one part is accurate and the other is unsupported, the overall assessment is mixed.

Why this verdict

  • The quote about not believing in the sanctity of science is directly supported by a specific televised interview.
  • The claim that "she" said his vaccine refusal would cost him his personal legacy cannot be verified in available sources.
  • Because one part is accurate and the other is unsupported, the overall assessment is mixed.

Claims checked

When Djokovic refused the vaccine (after already having Covid), she said it would cost him his personal legacy.

Can’t verify60%
Available coverage shows Djokovic himself acknowledging that refusing the COVID-19 vaccine could negatively affect his legacy and that he was willing to pay that price.[2] [4] [5] [6] However, there is no clear, attributable source showing that the same woman specifically said his refusal "would cost him his personal legacy," so this quote cannot be confirmed or directly refuted.

When Djokovic was seen without a mask and not social distancing, she claimed that he didn’t believe in the sanctity of science.

Verified95%
In a June 24, 2020 MSNBC segment, tennis analyst Mary Carillo said about Djokovic: "He does not believe in the sanctity of science," in the context of criticizing him and similar athletes for their attitudes toward science during the pandemic.[8] This closely matches the statement and is directly attributable to her.

What other AI think

The statement contains a significant factual error by using female pronouns ("she") to refer to Novak Djokovic, who is male and uses he/him pronouns. Additionally, the statement lacks clarity about who made the claims and provides no verifiable source for the specific quoted statements attributed to an unnamed person.

Why this verdict

  • The statement contains a significant factual error by using female pronouns ("she") to refer to Novak Djokovic, who is male and uses he/him pronouns.
  • Additionally, the statement lacks clarity about who made the claims and provides no verifiable source for the specific quoted statements attributed to an unnamed person.

Claims checked

Djokovic is referred to as 'she' throughout the statement

Incorrect99%
Novak Djokovic is male and uses he/him pronouns. Multiple reliable sources consistently refer to him with male pronouns.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

Someone claimed Djokovic didn't believe in the sanctity of science when he was seen without a mask

Can’t verify40%
The statement does not identify who made this claim, and no search results contain this specific quote or attribution.

Someone said Djokovic's vaccine refusal would cost him his personal legacy

Can’t verify40%
The statement does not identify who made this claim, and no search results contain this specific quote or attribution.
The response mixes verifiable facts about Djokovic's behaviour with an unclear attribution to an unspecified woman. Djokovic was publicly photographed and criticized for maskless, non‑distanced events and later remained unvaccinated despite having had COVID, but the quoted statements attributed to “she” cannot be verified without identifying who “she” is.

Why this verdict

  • The response mixes verifiable facts about Djokovic's behaviour with an unclear attribution to an unspecified woman.
  • Djokovic was publicly photographed and criticized for maskless, non‑distanced events and later remained unvaccinated despite having had COVID, but the quoted statements attributed to “she” cannot be verified without identifying who “she” is.

Claims checked

She claimed that he didn't believe in the sanctity of science.

Can’t verify45%
The statement attributes a quote to an unidentified woman; without a named speaker or source the claim cannot be confirmed or refuted.

She said Djokovic's vaccine refusal would cost him his personal legacy.

Can’t verify45%
Many commentators speculated about reputational damage, but attributing this specific line to an unnamed woman cannot be verified without identifying the speaker and source.

Djokovic refused the vaccine after already having Covid.

Verified85%
Djokovic contracted COVID‑19 in June 2020 and remained publicly unvaccinated through 2021–2022, declining COVID vaccination when this affected his tournament travel.

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