Tennis governing bodies continue to urge players to get vaccinated

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(CNN) -

Some of the best tennis players in the world gather in New York for the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season.

They do so at a time when there appears to be a sense of indecision about covid-19 vaccines among some of the sports' top stars.

World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas is the latest star to voice his doubts about the vaccine.

The number two in the world, Aryna Sabalenka, also expressed her doubts about the vaccination against covid-19 in March: "I do not trust too much. I certainly do not want my family to receive it. If I have to, I will think twice. times before I get vaccinated. "

Representatives for Sabalenka did not respond to CNN's request for comment on whether its stance had changed in the face of the US Open, in which players from the ATP men's circuit and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) will compete.

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In a statement sent to CNN, a spokesperson for the WTA said that almost 50% of its players are vaccinated, although a target of 85% has been set, by the end of the year.

The spokesperson said the organization "believes and encourages everyone to get vaccinated," but the decision to do so was "a personal decision, which we respect."

The ATP Tour, the men's tennis organization, said its current vaccination rate is "just over 50%."

In a statement sent to CNN, a spokesperson said the ATP Tour "continues to strongly recommend vaccination of players, based primarily on scientific evidence supporting the health benefits and protection it provides," but that the decision of every player getting vaccinated remains "free choice".

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Players could show a leadership role regarding vaccination against covid-19

MaliVai Washington, a Wimbledon finalist and four-time ATP circuit champion, says that players are in a unique position to influence others when it comes to receiving the vaccine.

"When I look at the ATP and the WTA, the international elite athletes, they can show a huge leadership role right now," Washington told CNN.

"When I say leaders, these athletes on the circuit, they have a significant influence on a lot of people who follow them and if they are advocates of it, you know, people will say, 'You know what, I'm going to take another look at this. I'm going to follow that. If this person is doing it, maybe that's okay with me. '

"I think they could have a huge impact on vaccination rates if, say, a handful of players on the men's and women's circuit came out saying, 'Yeah, I just got vaccinated.

However, Washington, which claims to be vaccinated, does not necessarily believe that gamers have a responsibility to use their platforms to publicly advocate for others to be vaccinated.

Rather, he believes that they share the same responsibility as the general public to do so to protect themselves and those around them.

MaliVai Washington reached the Wimbledon final in 1996.

"Each individual is going to see the word 'responsibility' differently," he explains.

"Personally, I think it's everyone's responsibility to get vaccinated ... now, not everyone feels comfortable promoting it and going out to talk about it and getting vaccinated on camera because they don't feel it is their responsibility."

"If I were on the circuit today, I would have no problem announcing publicly that I am getting vaccinated and would probably encourage other people to do the same."

Earlier this year, 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer revealed that he had been vaccinated, while his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, has also publicly supported vaccination.

Indecision about the vaccine

Last week on CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases of the United States, outlined a calendar for 2022 in which "we will begin to have a good control" on the covid-19 in the country. , as long as vaccination is increased.

"It's about knowing how many people get vaccinated, how many people step forward and say, 'We are sick of this already, we have to end this terrible outbreak that has completely turned our lives upside down,'" Dr. Fauci said Tuesday. to CBS This Morning.

However, the message from Fauci and other leading public health experts around the world seems unconvincing to many elite tennis players.

Tsitsipas' recent comments were enough for the Greek government to rebut its spokesman Giannis Oikonomou's claim that the 23-year-old player "does not have the knowledge or the necessary studies to assess the need for vaccination."

Tennis: Tsitsipas, against voluntary vaccination 0:54

Before the start of the US Open, Tsitsipas' agent did not respond to CNN's question about whether he had been vaccinated following Oikonomou's comments.

In a statement sent to CNN, a spokesperson for the ITF, the world's governing body for tennis, said: "The ITF continues to update the protocols that all ITF sanctioned tournaments and participants must follow to mitigate the risk of exposure and spread of the covid-19 ".

"While it remains a personal decision for each individual, we encourage all ITF event participants to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when it is available to them, in order to protect themselves and others.

"It is in everyone's interest that the restrictions can be responsibly relieved for the benefit of the participants, the tournament hosts and the community at large."

US Open Rules

But as hundreds of tennis players pour in from around the world, there are potential real-life consequences for New Yorkers, especially the people working behind the scenes at the US Open.

On Saturday, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that the New York City Hall will require spectators to provide proof of covid-19 vaccination in order to enter much of the US Open. .UU., Which was not the case before.

"Given the continued evolution of the delta variant and in keeping with our intent to put the health and safety of our fans first, the USTA will extend the Mayor's requirement to all US Open ticket holders from 12 years or more, "the statement said.

"Any attendee with tickets to Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, The Grandstand, or the US Open grounds, will need to present proof of at least one dose of the covid-19 vaccine to enter the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. "

US Open regulations state that people attending the tournament, as well as players, will also need proof of vaccination for indoor dining areas due to the recent New York City executive order.

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Players will also have to show proof of vaccination to eat at restaurants at the U.S. Open venue, in Flushing Meadows (and elsewhere in New York City), but vaccination mandates from the City for indoor events will not apply to tournament ancillary events, such as press conferences, unless they are residents of the city.

Now viewers will have to show proof of vaccination to attend the US Open.

US Open regulations require players to undergo a COVID test upon arrival, but they won't have to self-isolate while waiting for the result.

In a statement sent to CNN, an ATP spokesperson said: "Vaccination also helps players reduce the risk of being discarded from the competition, for being a positive case or close contact.

"We regularly reinforce this position in our communication to players, which has included several virtual sessions with medical experts on the subject in recent months."

US Open Director Stacey Allaster last week cited New York City's vaccination rate of nearly 70% as one of the reasons organizers back their tournament protocols.

Fans filling the stands at Flushing Meadows will be a stark contrast to the 2020 edition of the tournament, which was played entirely behind closed doors and even required players to stay largely within a US Open "bubble." United.

A prominent tennis player has already had to withdraw from the current US Open after testing positive for covid-19.

American Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion and currently fifth in the world, said on social media that she is vaccinated and that her symptoms are "quite mild."

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