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Published photo, Reuters
Andrei Rublev is one of the players who refuses to be vaccinated
A number of the world’s most prominent tennis players have sparked controversy in the sports community after announcing that they do not want to be vaccinated against the Corona virus.
ATP and WTA have called for the immunization of players with vaccines, but both associations have said they will not force anyone to do so.
Big tennis stars, including Novak Djokovic and Elena Svitolina, have expressed reservations about the vaccinations.
Last year, Djokovic said he was an “anti-vaccination” opponent, before going on a controversial exhibition tour to Serbia and Croatia, which an audience attended. Subsequent tests revealed that Djokovitz and three other players were infected with the virus.
He then claimed that his statements about vaccines were taken out of context in the media, saying, “My problem with vaccines is that I refuse to have someone force me to put anything in my body.”
The vaccine debate has intensified in recent weeks.
International health agencies, including the World Health Organization, have insisted that the benefits of vaccines outweigh the potential risks.
What did the players say?
Published photo, Reuters
Svetolina said she would rather wait
During press conferences on the sidelines of the current Miami Open, journalist Ben Rothenberg asked a number of actors about their willingness to receive the vaccine.
“They get there quickly without conducting enough experiments to know what’s going to happen,” said world-ranked eighth-ranked Arena Sabalenka, but added that she would receive the vaccine if needed.
“It’s hard to say, but I don’t want to receive it and I don’t want my family to have it.”
As for Ukrainian player Elena Svitolina, she said she spoke with a number of her friends, and they advised her to wait and wait for what would happen.
After the statements, the Women’s Tennis Association said in a statement that it would continue to “educate its players on the benefits of vaccination and the importance of vaccination.”
She added that she believes in vaccinations and encourages everyone to get vaccinated.
Among the men, Andrei Rublev, ranked in the top ten in the world, said: “The vaccine will not give you any advantage now.”
He said players participating in the tournament should not communicate with people outside of a specific social circle. “If he asked me to choose, I would not receive the vaccine,” he added.
And a statement released Tuesday by the Tennis Association said it recommended vaccines based on scientific evidence proving their health benefits and the protection they provide.
Players Ashley Barty and Naomi Osaka have said they will receive the vaccine. Simona Halep has already received the vaccine in her native Romania and was one of the first tennis players.
And in November, Andy Morey said tennis players might be required to get vaccinated to keep playing, adding that he hoped “they would do it in the best interests of the sport.”
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