Rafa calls for ALL players to be vaccinated

Rafa Nadal has told Spanish media every player should be vaccinated against coronavirus if they are to continue playing at the highest level.

And that includes anti-vaxxer Novak Djokovic, who last week admitted he was against vaccination and said that he would have to consider his future if inoculation was a stipulation for returning to the sport.

“No one can demand of anyone,” Nadal told La Voz de Galicia.

“Everyone is free. But the truth is if you belong to a circuit, perhaps one has to be governed by the rules that the circuit requires.

“So if the tour obliges [players] to vaccinate to be able to travel to protect everyone, Djokovic will have to be vaccinated if he wants to continue playing tennis at the highest level.

Rafa Nadal bids adieu as his attempt for a tenth French Open title ends at the hands of World Number 1 Novak Djokovic.
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

“I mean him, but also everyone… me too. Everyone will have to comply exactly like [it is] now when we have to stay home.

“If the ATP or the ITF forces us to get a vaccine to play tennis, then we will have to get it, just as we have restrictions on not taking too many medications for obvious doping control issues. It is a matter of following the rules.”

The covid-19 pandemic has forced a suspension of both the ATP and WTA tours, with Wimbledon cancelled and Roland Garros rescheduled for late September.

Meanwhile, tennis has resumed in the Chinese city Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic.

The city reopened its tennis courts this week but it is not known if the Wuhan WTA Premier tournament will go ahead in September.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Tenth time lucky as Li knocks out Sabalenka

American outsider Ann Li produced the upset of her life on Wednesday, taking 10 match points…

2 days ago

Zverev to take over as world No. 1

Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the…

3 days ago

Grumpy Mac lashes out at player sked complaints

John McEnroe has used a trip to Spain to come down hard on modern player…

6 days ago

Alcaraz back for another 1-Point Slam appearance

Carlos Alcaraz will headline the field as the Australian Open stages its 1-Point Slam for…

1 week ago

Djoko to skip Shanghai after Beijing title miracle

Novak Djokovic is wisely choosing not to tempt fate, with the China Open winner withdrawing…

1 week ago

Djokovic backs into 7th Beijing title as injured de Minaur quits

Novak Djokovic retained his magic touch at the China Open, winning his seventh title without…

1 week ago