Tennis star Novak Djokovic should set an example and get vaccinated against Covid-19, Spanish government spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez said on Tuesday, when asked if he should be allowed to compete in Spain where vaccination is not mandatory.

“What Mr. Djokovic has to do is get vaccinated, that would be the most sensible thing to do,” Rodriguez told a news conference. “Leading by example is important and this is indeed what our country’s great sportsmen and women do. For example, Mr (Rafael) Nadal,” she added, referring to one of Djokovic’s great rivals with whom he is tied on 20 major titles.

Djokovic travels regularly to Spain where he owns a house in the southern resort of Marbella.

Spanish rules currently require people to present either a vaccine certificate, a negative PCR test or a certificate of having recovered from Covid-19 to enter the country, so Djokovic should be able to compete in the Mutua Madrid Open between April 26 and May 8. He tested positive for Covid-19 in December.