Australian Open-bound Thiem says ‘I’ve been vaccinated’

Dominic Thiem said on Tuesday he has been vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus and is looking to return from Abu Dhabi from injury to prepare for the first 2022 Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open.

The ability of the 2020 US Open champion to announce his vaccination status is at odds with those like Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.

Both Djokvoic, the Australian Open champion, and Medvedev, who followed Thiem as the winner of the US Open, have refused to confirm whether they have been stabbed.

The issue of vaccination is at the heart of the world’s tennis debates before 17-30. January Grand Slam in Melbourne.

Authorities said unvaccinated players will not receive special permission for the event, which may exclude Djokovic.

READ: Paris Masters: Djokovic shakes rust to defeat Fucsovics

The nine-time Australian Open champion is one of many players who have refused to share their vaccination status and question whether he is defending his title.

Thiem has no such doubts and he confirmed his participation in Vienna in Abu Dhabi in December before the Australian Open.

“Needless to say, the vaccine is needed to play both events, and in my case, I’ve already been vaccinated.”

Last week, the Austrian Minister of Health advised Thiem to break into Covid-19.

Thiem said earlier this month it expected a vaccine from American pharmaceutical company Novavax, which uses an “inactivated” protein-based formula.

“I recently saw the news about this and I had made it clear that I would get vaccinated. Hopefully next time things won’t go as far as I saw last week.”

Thiem, the ninth-ranked 28-year-old in the world, is returning after a wrist injury that has kept him off the field since August.