Written by Staff Writer
For many stars on the tennis circuit, the ritual of taking the cold vaccine during the off-season is all about personal choice. But it seems one player on the ATP tour doesn’t care what others think.
Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas takes the vaccine each year as part of the treatment required before defending his Swiss Indoors title this month.
In an interview with the Mercury News in San Jose, Tsitsipas explained why he insists on taking it — and only the vaccine — when doing so.
Wimbledon’s “It’s not easy at all” crowd Stefanos Tsitsipas? Crowd talks over to British tennis fans who try to encourage a Serbian player to win the 2017 Aegon Championships after his disappointing opening round defeat at SW19.
When asked if he would rest for his recovery if he could opt out of his yearly vaccinations, Tsitsipas answered simply: “Yes.”
The 15-year-old said he didn’t worry about the reaction the vaccine might cause his supporters or players.
“People don’t really care,” he said. “I will get there (in the finals) because of my routine and also because I have a good team around me.”
Tsitsipas defeated American Jack Sock 6-4, 7-6 in the second round in Switzerland on Thursday, setting up a semifinal match on Saturday against Roger Federer.