World No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas has committed to January’s Australian Open, describing any potential restrictions forced on unvaccinated tennis stars, including quarantine, as fair.
One week after declining to reveal his COVID-19 vaccination status, the Greek star was asked about the looming vaccine mandate for athletes heading to Australia.
Before the Indian Wells competition in California, 23-year-old Tsitsipas was questioned whether he’d received a vaccine for COVID-19 – and the reasons why or why not.
“I’m sorry but I’m not able to provide any of my medical records, or my medical status. Thank you,” Tsitsipas said last week.
But, at Indian Wells on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), after a three-set elimination of Australian Alex de Minaur ahead of the quarter-finals, Tsitsipas briefly elaborated on his situation.
A reporter asked the Greek Star: “The local government in Australia has suggested [to] players to get vaccinated.
“There is a possibility that players who are not vaccinated could face more restrictions in terms of quarantine and movement during the grand slam. So, will you play under such conditions in Australia?”
After a pause, Tsitsipas described the requirements as “fair”.
The Greek had made the quarter-finals in Miami, as well as back-to-back semi-finals in Toronto and Cincinnati before he added Indian Wells to the list with his 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-2 win over the 22nd seed.
The second seed overcame 40 unforced errors – eight more than his opponent’s – and finished with 34 winners, two more than De Minaur, to book a showdown with unseeded Nikoloz Basilashvili, an earlier winner over Karen Khachanov.
