British tennis player Andy Murray highlighted the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19, urging his colleagues to get inoculated in order to keep the “wider public” safe ahead of the start of the US Open. 

“Ultimately I guess the reason why
all of us are getting vaccinated is to look out for the wider public,” CNN quoted him saying during a news conference on Saturday. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam winner, is currently in New York, looking to add a fourth at Flushing Meadows. 

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“We have a responsibility as players that are traveling across the world, yeah,
to look out for everyone else as well. I’m happy that I’m vaccinated. I’m
hoping that more players choose to have it in the coming months.”

Murray’s statement comes after a spokesperson
for WTA Tour revealed that “nearly 50 percent” of its players were vaccinated while
the ATP Tour said its vaccination rates were “just above 50 percent.”

In an interview with
L’Equipe, French veteran Gilles Simon, who was disqualified from the US Open on
Friday for “medical grounds,” acknowledged that he was withdrawn
because he had not been vaccinated.

“I was not against it to
the point of never being vaccinated, I’m just saying I didn’t feel the need or
the urge,” Simon told L’Equipe. “My basic philosophy is: If you’re afraid of it
(coronavirus), you get vaccinated; if not, no. It’s still a choice.”

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Both tours agree with Simon that vaccination should remain an
option for players, even as they encourage them to take the jab. 

“While we respect everyone’s right to free choice, we also
believe that each player has a role to play in helping the wider group achieve
a safe level of immunity,” the ATP said.

The WTA stated that
it “strongly believes in and encourages everyone to get a vaccine.” But it is
currently “not requiring players to get a vaccine as this is a personal
decision, and one which we respect.”

Also Read: Serena Williams withdraws from US Open due to injuries

Top-ranked Novak
Djokovic has also supported the idea of getting vaccine at one’s personal
discretion.

Refusing to disclose his
own vaccine status, Djokovic said on Friday “Whether someone wants to get a
vaccine or not, that’s completely up to them,” Djokovic said. “I hope that it
stays that way.”