If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I follow tennis. Tennis is a global sport, and it has had to adapt to the pandemic, like everyone else. The tennis tour has basically “solved” their traveling-in-a-pandemic problems by creating roving bubbles depending on where the tournaments are being held. Some bubbles were stronger than others, and fans have been slowly allowed back to watch tennis in-person, although a number of events were held without fans in the past year.
At various tournaments this year, tournament organizers offered Covid vaccines to players. The Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine was a popular choice early on, with the women’s tournament in Charleston offering free J&J vaccines to every player and their teams. Novak Djokovic – who has previously said anti-Vaxxy things – hosted multiple small tournaments at his tennis club in Belgrade, and at those tournaments, players were also offered vaccines. It’s happened at other tournaments too, but at this moment, the ATP and WTA are only “encouraging” players to get vaccinated and not mandating it. There is anecdotal reporting that less than 30% of the tour is fully vaccinated.
We’re in the part of the season where players are in North America. This week, they’re in Cincinnati, then the US Open in New York, then Indian Wells in October. At those tournaments, fans are welcome and the “bubble” is not so strict. There are some protocols in place, but the tour is really trying to ease up on players and fans. Which makes it really hard when players are out here, being complete dumbasses. Apparently, Stefanos Tsitsipas – a top five player and a finalist at the French Open this year – confirmed in press on Monday that he’s not vaccinated and he doesn’t plan to get vaccinated until it’s mandatory:
Stefanos Tsitsipas says he has not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19, and would only do so if vaccination becomes mandatory to compete on tour.#CincyTennis
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 16, 2021
There were players saying this kind of sh-t in March, when no one knew if and when vaccines would be widely available to people who live the nomadic existence of a pro tennis player. But now, in August? To still feel this way? Please, someone educate this dumbass.
Also: it’s past time for the governing tennis bodies – ATP, WTA and ITF – to simply mandate vaccines. Players are stuck in North America for the next month, probably longer if they stay here for Indian Wells. Just line them up and jab them. If they refuse, don’t let them play. It’s that simple.
Also, Stefanos totally stepped on his own good press – he has a super-soft profile in Vogue in which (surprise) vaccines are not discussed.
Twenty-two-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas has more going for him than a killer forehand: A love of travel. A keen interest in graphic design. And an appreciation of essential oils https://t.co/K6SJvW7OSr
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) August 16, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
This is the guy that is being pushed as the future of tennis. Terrible. He’s said and done some stupid things in the past but this has to be the worst.
I saw him get beat by Nick Kyrgios at the citi open (washington dc) a few years ago and he seemed super blah and not exciting or interesting at all. Had no idea he was considered the one to watch
He is good mates with Kyrgios. I am surprised Tsitsipas is not vaxxed, I didn’t think he’d take the risk of Kyrgios calling him a donut on Twitter, like he did Djokovic!
Ah, so good looking and yet so stupid. I see he likes essential oils too – he can just use those to protect himself against Covid!
This guy is so stupid but many tennis players are antivaxx so I’m starting to think the ones being vaccinated are the exception in tennis and not the rule.
I got a severe allergy after the first dose of the Covid vaccine (close to an anaphylactic shock, I had to be hospitalised) and guess what, I still got my second dose. Granted I got it after being given an antihistaminic and at the hospital (and a different vaccine), but I still got fully vaccinated.
Those morons have no excuses.
Just curious what vaccines you had? I had a mild reaction to first Pfizer shot…facial swelling on side of shot for a few weeks but had a huge reaction to second Pfizer and needed to go to ED. I had recurrent mouth sores and sciatic pain and left sides numbness for four weeks after. I’m told by specialist I had neurogenic response. Still glad I got the vaccine
My thoughts exactly. So pretty, so dumb. I used to work for a book fair, we always joked about how and why the esoteric mumbo jumbo stalls were so successful, it’s really not funny anymore though.
And the vaxx isn’t mandated at the tennis arenas because…
I’m sorry he’s a fool and everyone on that tour that isn’t vaxxed is a traveling public health risk.
I read a news article yesterday about the feds intercepting a bunch of fake vaccine cards from another country. It scares me that people like this moron will try to use something like this instead of getting vaccinated.
I read that story twice, granted I am on my first cup of caffeine, but where does it mention stealing vaccine cards or fake immunization cards?
Yeah, I don’t think he’ll do that. It’s not like he actually needs to. His tour doesn’t require him to be vaccinated so technically, whether people like it or not, he’s not breaking any rules.
I haven’t read about fake cards from other countries but there have been cases of pharmacists & others using the legit cards (the ones they have to use for their customers who really get vaccinated there) to provide falsified records for people who don’t get vaccinated
At this point, the folks on the tennis tours that aren’t vaccinated are a direct threat to those who are because they’ll be the source of continuous exposure
Unfortunately I know that the fear of the vaccine (due to misinformation) is very much a problem in Europe from relatives that have reached out to see what we have done and what we hear here in the States. Would love to know why he doesn’t want to be vaccinated and if he gets benched (like he should due to non vaccination) he can have plenty of time to think it through.
A lot of people see mandatory vaccination as the first step into mass control, ‘for the good of the people’.
They believe it is a slippery slope leading to the creation of a restrictive society.
It starts with good intentions and will end up being arbitrary and coercive on more nd more aspects of our daily lives.
Then we better hurry and remove all the traffic signs! We don’t want to start controlling the masses.
One of my favourite genres of “free thinker” videos is them screaming into the camera about government control from their safety regulated vehicles with their seatbelts on, on their way to a store or restaurant that has a health inspection regularly.
Did none of these muppets go to school? We had mandatory vaccinations from when we were babies right through to secondary school. I do not understand their thought process.
I see so much of that regarding masks. Like…how is that control? It’s a piece of fabric over your mouth and nose when you’re in a public place. We did it for like a year and no one lost control over their lives. You have to wear fabric over your butt to go to the supermarket, no one cries about losing their freedom over that.
It’s as nonsensical as people screaming the vaccine will be used to “track” them, while using a smart phone.
I am not disagreeing!
They claim it is unprecedented, and in some countries you now need a proof of vaccine to access public transports, shops and restaurants. That, according to those ‘freedom fighters’ is the danger- governments could in the future use any emergency to impose similar measures.
It is not unprecedented. Lol. As usual, the argument against vaccination is built on fear and ignorance.
It’s only a matter of time before it’s mandated. Just get your vaccine and get over it.
If anything, get it for healthcare workers who are burned the f@#k out. Been doing this since February 2020. So many of my co-workers have quit in the last 6 months. Never seen anything like it.
Really hope if this tennis idiot gets sick he stays away from hospitals and doctors and nurses who are working tirelessly to keep morons like him from dying. Ugh, just so much anger for these unvaccinated selfish narcissists who are keeping all of us from a normal life.
So pretty, so dumb.
I feel we’re getting closer to putting the willfully unvaccinated on an island. I’d watch that for a while.
Oh me too, great idea for a streaming show!
Let’s pitch the idea to Netflix!
Any others you’d like to see on the guest list? Ooh, and activities!
ETA: I thought of an activity! A challenge to see which team can successfully operate a ventilator! Bonus points for fastest intubation!
We’ll call it the Island of Diminishing Returns. Too ghoulish?
My oldest is currently reading Lord of the Flies so a bunch of them on an island triggered scenes from that novel.
Well this is disappointing. This guy flew into Canada last week, went through a very busy airport (saw him in the customs line) and apparently did not do the mandatory 14 day quarantine as he played tennis a few days later.
Who among the male next gen is even worth rooting for? Stef is anti-vax. Zverev is a domestic abuser. Medvedev had a racist rant. Rune had a homophobic one. Shapo disfigured a chair umpire. Rublev had the intimidation issues in ITF. Sinner? Alcaraz? Felix is fine but seems destined to never win a final. Tennis needs to gets its act together. It’s hell bent on abusing and marginalizing its only viable global star for the crime of being a woman of color. If they don’t have Osaka over the next decade, they’re screwed.
I was going to say Hubert Hurkacz because everyone says he’s one of the nicest guys on the tour and he’s had a pretty great year, but then I looked up and he apparently said he’s too busy planning out his tournament schedule to get the vaccine. So…sigh.
I’m sorry to hear that about Hurkacz. He does seem genuinely nice, like Ash Barty. But is he compelling enough to bring new fans to the sport like Osaka or Nadal, Federer, and Serena in previous decades? Quick aside, how did we both forget Berretini?
FAA plays a beautiful game, he can totally win a final. Shapo made a mistake a can be forgiven. Hurkacz, Tiafoe, Mcdonald, tiem, Ruud, schwartzman, opelka. There are loads of guys to root for. A superstar though? Woof. Barty is as boring as they get. At least the men have a personality.
FAA plays a beautiful game, he can totally win a final. Shapo made a mistake & can be forgiven. Hurkacz, Tiafoe, Mcdonald, tiem, Ruud, schwartzman, opelka. There are loads of guys to root for. A superstar though? Woof. Barty is as boring as they get. At least the men have a personality.
The whole premise here is people travelling from one country to another. How is it NOT mandatory to be vaccinated? I get the argument about governments not mandating but you can squeeze people in every other way – access to facilities, school, etc.
My right-wing conspiracy theorist family in France have finally had their first shots last week because otherwise they won’t be able to go places and do things without their ‘pass sanitaire’. Thank goodness.
Oh @SarahCS, I feel your pain. I’m in France and have had some of my “friends” in my DMs talking about how the pass sanitaire is unfair, doesn’t hold to French values, authoritarian, dangerous, etc., etc.
I stopped responding to them because I’m vaccinated with my pass sanitaire, and I can do things. Those who chose to stay home aren’t my problem!
But in the end, all of the whining about how they don’t know what’s in the vaccine gets thrown out the window when the prospect of not eating out and enjoying a concert comes into play.
The media needs to treat sh**ty behavior like this the way they’ve treated Naomi Osaka instead of the other way around. And the ATP needs to fine the ever-loving cr** out of him and ban him from playing until he’s vaxed.
I’m so over these idiots.
Co-sign.
I’m truly done with people hollering about how they won’t get vaccinated “unless mandatory.” It IS mandatory, morons! People are begging for vaccines around the world, and these guys flaunt it in their faces that they have the luxury of not getting vaccinated and doing their own mini protest about it. Congrats. While you refuse your doses, others are dying from Covid.
Please get vaccinated, folks!
Which îs why it should have been made mandatory in the first place. The drama would not still be here six months later. But… can you make a non approved vaccine mandatory?
Is he worried about his arm? Just a question to understand how he thinks.
I am vaccinated, but because of the precise use of their arms in sport I wondered if that’s why some athletes are resistant to it. That article makes mention of his forehand. I could see a tennis player being protective of how their strokes work. And if the tour isn’t mandating it, I could see a lot of athletes holding out since they’re so precise about everything that goes into their bodies while in competition. I would probably take more issue of the tour not requiring of it than him waiting for them to actually mandate it (if given a choice, then most will pick the one that most benefits them).
If the protectiveness of his arm is not the reason, then never mind.
The vaccine does not damage your arm. It is sore for maybe three days. You put the vaccine in your body to protect it from the virus. Do these athletes have doctors? Good grief, the ignorance.
I’m not saying the vaccine damages his arm. I’m wondering if that’s what his perception is. I am double- vaccinated so I have no issue sticking it in mine. I do think some of the articles on the issue are a bit mealy-mouthed though.
As long as you give them a choice, they’re going to look at every calculation they think their body perceives or feels. That’s all I’m saying. I wouldn’t even be surprised if their doctors also given them both pros AND cons and they make a decision from there. The one slight con would be enough for them to make a perceptual shift and say no. Which is why it would make more sense for the tour itself to just make it mandatory (he himself said he would take it when it’s mandatory. He didn’t say he’d refuse it once the mandate comes down, and according to the ATP, they’re encouraged, but not mandated to take it. If you’re giving him a choice, he’s going to make the one that he feels benefits him and his career).
Oh, I get it, I just disagree that not getting a vaccine is beneficial to his career.
I could fully understand not wanting to get the shot before a match, because there is a risk of side effects. But I find it hard to believe there wasn’t a stretch of time between events that he couldn’t get it done. Most people who had side effects, they only lasted a day or 2 at most. The only person I know who had it worse was someone who probably could have gotten a medical exemption, but got the vaccine anyway and suffered through the side effects, because COVID would likely kill her, and she didn’t want to spread it to anyone else.
He’s dumb. I don’t know what this tour schedule is but he isn’t going to play in NYC without being vaccinated. That starts today. He’s risking feeling like shit while trying to oh play
He’s pretty young. Since he’s 22, I could see his youth giving him a slight feeling of invincibility. He’s an athlete that has probably trained extensively to the exclusion of hard schooling, and he’s still youthful enough to be evolving — is anyone really that surprised he wouldn’t be that smart? Maybe there are some brainiac tennis players out there at his age, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
I’m sure that will comfort the people he exposes. It’s not just about him.
Of course it’s not just about him. But there are so many people doing whatever they want right now (all you have to do is turn to Instagram), people like him not being that smart isn’t much of a shocker anymore. I can’t feign surprise on people’s intelligence. Unless you enforce some kind of mandate, people are at heart pretty selfish and I’d say most are kind of dumb to some extent (my view of humanity is quite dim right now).
I’m pretty sure the people who have already been exposed in the past were likely exposed to by stupid people. How else has this pandemic been going on for so long?
So your point is that we shouldn’t be surprised? Okay…
Yes, that’s why mandates would probably help in this instance. I don’t think a lot of people are magically going to become smart and/or unkind, as evidenced by most of what we see on the news on the daily about the spread and transmissibility of infections.
I know he’s young, but what’s he waiting for?
I absolutely can’t stand being called a dumbass and an idiot for not being vaccinated at the moment. I have a serious heart condition and I have been strongly advised by my cardiologist not to vaccinate throughout my life. I am certainly not going to experiment with a vaccine which is still in a testing-phase and although the media tries to downplay side-effects – they do occur. Getting a vaccine-shot is a serious medical decision which has not to be made lightly.
What I am trying to say is people have different reasons for not vaccinating and all of them are definitely not idiots.
P.S. I had Covid this February. Mild symptoms.
1) If you had CoViD in February, you wouldn’t be recommended to vaccinate by your physician until October of this year. Your antibodies are protecting you in place of two Pfizer vaccines (or so it is alleged but not certain as the data and information changes daily) until then.
2) The vaccines are stage 3 FDA (clinical trials have been completed and the vaccines cleared for an approval designation or an FDA approval number which is registered for regulatory reviews as required by law). The reason why the FDA is not able to assign a unique number to each of these vaccines is because they are currently being distributed through a rarely used public health and safety state of national emergency provision, which is done when the process and products in question, like these vaccines, are distributed via supply chains and administration of the shots by injectors, FREE OF CHARGE TO ANYONE AND ALL IN THE US. It has ZERO to do with non compliance via clinical trials. There are no clinical trials for the vaccines available to Americans on American soil. As soon as the pandemic is no longer requiring emergency distribution provisions with 100% costs absorbed by the federal government, all big pharma companies providing these vaccinations will be eligible for FDA assignments per each approved intellectual property and corresponding patent number assigned, whenever appropriate. Current vaccines are exactly as ones after the bureaucratic legalities have been met.
3) If you actually had CoViD, your mild presentation is the same as a pronounced presentation, antibody and variant-wise. If you didn’t die of it then with your cardiac health challenges, the exact same goes for the vaccines. Hence your “human guinea pig – experiment” argument is moot.
4) Almost all persons with heart disease are STRONGLY advised to be vaccinated annually for the flu and other vaccines, as heart disease or chronic heart disease INCREASES your chances of chances of not surviving a viral infection, especially one which specifically targets your cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
5) The RARE immunocompromised persons who are medically advised to not receive injections due to chemotherapy or specific mRNA based cancer drug therapies, are most certainly NOT idiots. This much is true.
As someone who lives in a country where vaccines are scarce and the ones we get are not highly effective (still, that is better than having none) I can not believe the amount of people choosing not to get it? It reeks privilege and is really, really scary to see so many people falling for the “personal choice, F the system” crap. They are mixing political views with health.
As a tennis player he better pray like crazy he doesn’t even get a mild case. Does he not understand it affects your lungs. Doctors still don’t truly understand the long term effects of it. Even with a very mild case of it with no hospitalization, the other players could run him ragged on the court.
There’s zero logic to his application in his statement.
If you’re willing to get the vaccine if it is required/demanded for you to do so, then there’s nothing standing in between you doing it now or doing it then. If there were, then you wouldn’t claim that you will do it if forced, since a legitimate reason would exclude you from being forced.
Better to be honest and say, “I don’t want to do it unless I’m forced, but I am not willing to be as safe as clinically possible until then, because I need to make money and advance my career and financial interests, and am willing to do so, even if that means I may place myself and/or others at risk for infection”.
See how easy that is?
Don’t stadiums require proof-of-vaccination? Wouldn’t the tour’s stance conflict with how some of the stadiums are choosing to operate? Now that I’m thinking about it more, I’m a little confused as to how the rules even work in this instance for the ATP tour.
Idiot. That is all.
Entitled, egoistical and privileged, probably thinks he’s too cute but no vaxx is UGLY, end of story. I’m way past wishing anything good for those who refuse to vaxx so I’ll just say, I hope his stupidity doesn’t result in other people’s deaths.
I hate it when I am attracted to a douche.