Natalia Vikhlyantseva, a professional female tennis player, faced disappointment as she was unable to participate in the Australian Open due to the tournament’s Covid-19 vaccination requirements. Surprisingly, despite being fully vaccinated, she was not permitted to attend.
The controversy surrounding the prestigious tennis event came to light when Novak Djokovic received a medical waiver exempting him from the vaccination mandate, allowing him to compete in the tournament despite publicly expressing skepticism towards vaccines. In contrast, Vikhlyantseva found herself in a different predicament. Although she had received a full vaccination, she had opted for the Russian Sputnik vaccine, which is not recognized as valid in many Western countries.
Expressing her dismay, the world’s 54th-ranked female player shared her thoughts with ITV News, stating, “I was really upset that I can’t be in Australia with the whole tennis world.” She acknowledged the anonymity of the exemption process but emphasized her readiness to comply with all necessary testing protocols and pleaded for a chance to participate in the tournament.
During her time on the WTA tour last year, Vikhlyantseva was offered Western-approved vaccines but declined, citing concerns about potential side effects impacting her performance on the court. Despite her exclusion from the event, she refrained from criticizing Djokovic’s entry and instead directed her frustration towards the Australian Open organizers.
However, Djokovic’s situation took a dramatic turn as he faced complications at the Australian border and might be deported due to visa-related issues.
