Father Apostolos supports son Stefanos Tsitsipas’ stunning claims on the Covid-19 vaccine
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Stefanos Tsitsipas
World No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas recently raised a few eyebrows in the tennis world by sharing his diffident approach about the Covid-19 vaccine and its adverse effects.
The Greek superstar even opined that until the vaccine is mandatory for tennis players by the authorities, he is not going to welcome the jab.
“I am not against vaccines, but I don’t see any reason for someone of my age to do it – it hasn’t been tested enough and it has side effects – as long as it’s not mandatory, everyone can decide for themselves,” he told Greek press at the ongoing tournament in Cincinnati.
The 23-year-old’s father Apostolos too shared his views on the same by backing his son, “Athletes have a strong enough immune system to deal with any challenge that may arise,” the senior Tsitsipas opined.
Greek Government hits back at Tsitsipas
As expected the stunning claims on the Covid-19 vaccine by Stefanos didn’t go down well with the Greek government.
“He does not have the knowledge and studies to assess the need for vaccinations,” government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou was quoted as saying in Greek press reports. “Stefanos Tsitsipas is a great athlete, his skills in sports and his contribution to sports in the country is unquestionable.”
“What is at stake, however, is his ability to assess the need for vaccinations or whether the vaccine has been tested for a sufficient period of time. And … he has neither the knowledge nor the studies nor the research work that would allow him to form an opinion about it,” the statement further read.
Meanwhile, Tsitsipas is seeded No.2 at the Cincinnati Masters and will take on Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals. While he has won a Masters 1000 title in 2021 on the clay, the Greek is yet to win one for the year on the hard courts.
That said, regardless of the result at Cincinnati Open, he will be one of the favourites to win the 2021 US Open in New York.
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