US Open players don’t need COVID shots; about half have them

NEW YORK – When Andy Murray sat within the U.S. Open’s predominant interview room for a pre-tournament information convention Saturday, the moderator knowledgeable the 2012 champion he was allowed to take away the form of gentle blue medical masks that has turn into so ubiquitous in the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

Not like the 9 gamers who met with the media in that spot a day earlier, Murray selected to maintain his masks on. And in contrast to roughly half the opposite women and men who can be taking the court docket when the 12 months’s final Grand Slam event begins Monday, Murray has been vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19.

He needs extra tennis execs had been. It units up a few contrasts at Flushing Meadows in the case of a hot-button issue across society nowadays, particularly as instances linked to the delta variant improve.

For one factor, gamers and their staff members don’t have to be vaccinated, however the spectators who’ve paid to look at them — and at some courts can get shut sufficient to the motion to supply high-fives — now should be capable to present they’ve had not less than one shot.

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Plus, among the many gamers, there are these, equivalent to No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic, who body the choice about whether or not to get a shot as a purely private selection. And there are these, equivalent to Murray, who clarify it as being not nearly defending oneself but in addition about serving to others.

“I really feel like I’m having fun with sort of a reasonably regular life, whereas for the gamers that haven’t, it’s totally different. I’m certain they’ll be pissed off with that. In the end, I suppose the explanation why all of us are getting vaccinated is to look out for the broader public. We have now a accountability as gamers which can be touring internationally to look out for everybody else, as nicely,” Murray stated. “I’m blissful that I’m vaccinated. I’m hoping that extra gamers select to have it within the coming months.”

An ATP spokesman stated Saturday that simply above 50% of male gamers are vaccinated and the boys’s tour “continues to strongly suggest vaccination to gamers.” A WTA spokeswoman stated almost half of feminine gamers are vaccinated and the ladies’s tour “strongly believes in, and encourages everybody to get, a vaccine,” with a purpose of elevating numbers “in extra of 85% by the top of the 12 months,” whereas not presently requiring athletes to get the pictures.

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As just lately as Wednesday, the U.S. Tennis Affiliation stated followers would not have to be vaccinated on the U.S. Open. However, prompted by the New York mayor’s workplace, the USTA did an about-face Friday, making it necessary for followers over 12 years previous getting into the grounds to indicate proof they’ve obtained one dose — drawing reward on social media from these happy in regards to the further layer of precaution and complaints from others upset in regards to the coverage and its timing.

Individuals who work together with gamers already had been required to be vaccinated: USTA workers, chair umpires, ball youngsters, the media and a few safety and transportation staff.

Some gamers say their itinerant way of life, commonly touring from metropolis to metropolis — and even continent to continent — makes getting the vaccine sophisticated.

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“There are some alternatives which have come up all year long. Possibly a handful,” stated three-time main semifinalist Johanna Konta, who will not be vaccinated and pulled out of Wimbledon due to contact tracing after a staff member examined constructive for COVID-19, then acquired sick herself and missed the Tokyo Olympics. “However clearly it’s a logistical factor to place collectively and to time these issues. That’s simply the character of sort of our sport.”

Not like in staff sports activities such because the NFL or Main League Baseball, the place vaccines had been inspired and incentivized, tennis may be very a lot a person sport, the place sure tournaments supply gamers the possibility to get pictures on-site and others do not — together with the U.S. Open itself.

“We supplied the athletes with the knowledge of the place they will go to be vaccinated within the neighborhood of the resort. … There are such a lot of places right here in New York Metropolis for non-citizens to obtain a vaccine,” event director Stacey Allaster stated. “We received’t particularly be doing it right here on-site.”

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Coco Gauff, the 17-year-old American who was a French Open quarterfinalist in June, stated she was imagined to get her first vaccine shot the identical week she acquired COVID-19.

“The actual downside is simply getting the dosages spaced out and, clearly, going from nation to nation is tough,” Gauff stated this month.

“However,” she stated, “I’m going to get it as quickly as I can.”

Different gamers, equivalent to Stefanos Tsitsipas, the runner-up to Djokovic on the French Open, say they solely could be vaccinated if it had been required.

“Sooner or later I should, I’m fairly certain about it, however to date it hasn’t been necessary to compete, so I haven’t completed it,” stated Tsitsipas, who’s scheduled to face Murray on Monday.

Djokovic and his spouse, Jelena, examined constructive for the coronavirus final 12 months after he organized a collection of exhibition matches whereas the professional excursions had been on hiatus.

“I really feel like that ought to be all the time a private resolution, whether or not you need to get vaccinated or not. So I’m supportive of that,” Djokovic stated. “So whether or not somebody desires to get a vaccine or not, that’s utterly as much as them. I hope that it stays that means.

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Extra AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports