Azarenka: Time for players to talk about mandatory vaccines
US Open Tennis Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, celebrates her win over Jasmine Paolini, of Italy, during the second round of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in New York. Players are not required to get a shot and only about half on the men's and women's tours have. “I want to start this conversation between our players, because to me that’s a bit bizarre that fans have to be vaccinated and players are not,” Azarenka said. Azarenka thinks it's time for the players and tours to talk about taking it beyond that. “I was really worrying about my arm and my hand, and I’m really happy that I could finish this match,” Sabalenka said.
wftv.comDoes Djokovic's next foe have hope? 'I was wondering that'
Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis in the second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – At the mere mention of Novak Djokovic’s name, at the mere thought of sharing a court with a 17-time Grand Slam champion and the French Open’s No. He used these phrases: “really, really excited” and “really, really happy” and “really, really special.”Galan is, after all, ranked 153rd and never had won so much as one main-draw match at any major tournament until this week. Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champ, plays 87th-ranked Paula Badosa, who arrived in Paris with a 1-5 Grand Slam record. “Well,” came Galan’s reply, “I was wondering that, to be honest.”And then he launched into a story about how he was “really, really nervous” before playing former top 10-member David Goffin in the Davis Cup Finals last November.
Palermo sets example for the return of tour-level tennis
A view of the central court during Palermo Ladies Open tennis tournament in Palermo, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. Tour-level tennis resumed after a five-month enforced break and players at the Palermo Ladies Open had to handle their own towels and not shake hands of opponents. (Palermo Ladies Open via AP)ROME The only player who tested positive for the coronavirus was withdrawn from the tournament without ever setting foot at the venue. Local organizers and the WTA Tour have been vigilant about abiding by strict health protocols in order to hold this weeks Palermo Ladies Open, the first tour-level tennis tournament for men or women in five months. A large part of the players are coming from Palermo, Palma said.