The subject of COVID-19 vaccines continues to weigh on some of the tennis’ biggest stars.
World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas told reporters he isn’t planning to get vaccinated unless the ATP Tour mandates it.
“No one has told me anything. No one has made it a mandatory thing to be vaccinated,” the 23-year-old Greek said Monday in Cincinnati at the Masters 1000 Western & Southern Open tournament.
“At some point I will have to, I’m pretty sure about it, but so far it hasn’t been mandatory to compete, so I haven’t done it, no.”
No. 1 Novak Djokovic has declined to state whether he has been vaccinated, saying in April he hoped it wouldn’t be mandatory.
On the other side, No. 4 Rafael Nadal is a supporter of vaccinations.
“The only way out of this nightmare is vaccination. Our responsibility as human beings is to accept it,” he said.
“I know there is a percentage of people who will suffer from side effects, but the effects of the virus are worse.”
Tsitsipas’ comments came as the United States Tennis Association is grappling with holding the U.S. Open amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
On June 17, the USTA said fans would be welcomed at the U.S. Open at full capacity, but last week, the association said qualifying rounds from Aug. 24-27 would be closed to the public because of the virus.
The main draw tournament begins Aug. 31 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
The 2020 event was held without fans in attendance.
–Field Level Media