'My biggest fear': Tennis maverick casts doubt on future Asia travel
Italian firebrand and World No.11 Fabio Fognini said it doesn’t look like he will be returning to Asia to play any tournaments following the coronavirus crisis.
Fognini - a fiery customer whose on court antics always keeps fans guessing - is isolating in his home country, which has been hit hard by the global pandemic.
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Speaking with a local publication, Fognini said he would consider ruling out playing in any tournament in Asia after the outbreak of Covid-19 started in Wuhan.
He said the reason was the safety of his wife and children.
“Well, right now I find it hard to imagine the recovery. I’m honest: I’m sorry because they are big tournaments and give so many points, but I don’t know if I will return to Asia anymore,” Fognini told Corriere Della Sera.
“Already at the Tokyo Olympics this year I would not have gone. My biggest fear is not taking the virus, but passing it on. I am no longer alone. I am a dad and husband.”
Fognini is married to Grand Slam champion Flavia Pennetta and has two children.
US star Tennys Sandgren also cast doubt on further participation in tournaments set in China following the pandemic.
His claim comes as World No.1 Novak Djokovic reveals he is against a travel vaccine if it were to become mandatory following the coronavirus crisis.
Djokovic against travel vaccine
Djokovic faces a dilemma if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the hiatus created by the coronavirus pandemic, the World No.1 said on Sunday.
“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said in a live Facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes.
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“But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision.
“I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.”
