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ATP COVID vaccine

‘It’s the logical next step’, says Andy Roddick on ATP players getting COVID vaccine


Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick said he sees no downside to players getting the COVID vaccine, after the ATP announced new protocols incentivising getting the jab. 

The ATP is set to release updated protocols to encourage players to get vaccinated, including the possibility of being exempt from quarantine.

ATP and WTA players – Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Andrey Rublev – expressed skepticism about getting the vaccine earlier this week.

“It’s the logical next step. Based on efficacy rates in the real world it’s less of a risk to have vaccinated players versus testing people and having false positives, false negatives, who knows what,” Roddick said on Tennis Channel Live.

“So, this is a logical next step and it seems fair. If I was a player and I was in the locker room, I would want to know who was vaccinated. I would feel safe around those people.

“And I’m sure there are still gonna be mask mandates at the tournaments, so I don’t really see the downside to this at all.”


Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.