Victoria Azarenka answers a question regarding US Open fans being required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend. (2:03).
NEW YORK -- Former world number one. 1 Victoria Azarenka raised concern about the difference in vaccinations between players and fans at the US Open. She said it was "bizarre," that players have to get vaccinated, while fans do not.
Flushing Meadows requires that fans show proof of having received at least one dose COVID-19 vaccination to be allowed to enter. However, players are not required to get vaccinated.
Azarenka, after her win against Jasmine Paolini, 6-3, 7-6, on Wednesday, spoke to reporters and stated that it was inevitable that vaccines would be required for players at some point. This is also the case with many other leagues.
She stated, "I don’t see why it is necessary to stall it. Because we all want safety, we all want our jobs to continue, and I know there are a lot of conversations about it."
Azarenka said that she accepts all opinions as long as it isn't conspiracy theory.
She said, "If you have decent knowledge and looked into the research and have your facts stats and research, then that's a different conversation." "But I believe that the part of conversation that you really need to know what you're talking about is missing from a lot players.
Azarenka stated that she hoped everyone would make the right decision for "our business", for their health, and for the tournaments.
Andy Murray, who spoke out days before the tournament, also stressed the importance of players being vaccinated. He said that it was their responsibility as athletes travelling the world.
He said that he believed the main reason all of us were getting vaccinated was to protect the public. As players who travel around the globe, we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone is protected. I am happy to have been vaccinated. I hope that it will be more popular in the future.
Numerous high-profile tennis players, including the world No. Concerns have been raised by Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tisipas, Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Novak Djokovic about being vaccinated.
