Tennis Australia is dealing with another crisis less than a month out from the Australian Open, with one of the country’s most promising rising stars choosing not to get vaccinated. Teenage sensation Olivia Gadecki is set to miss the entire Australian summer of tennis in a huge blow to the sport, reports 7NEWS.
The 19-year-old stands firm by her decision and is therefore not eligible to play the 2022 Australian Open. The teenage sensation is giving up on at least $100,000 in prize money.
The 2021 tennis season made Gadecki a national star. From an unranked player at the start of the year, the Queenslander reached a WTA career-high of No. 230. Her stellar rise in the rankings was a result of two titles and four finals on the ITF circuit.
It’s understood that Tennis Australia has been working for weeks trying to convince Gadecki to change her mind, but unless there is a late change of heart, Australian fans won’t get to see the emerging talent play at the tournament.
Gadecki will become the second athlete to withdraw from the 2022 Australian Open after unvaccinated French tennis ace Pierre-Hugues Herbert announced his withdrawal earlier this month.
Frenchman Jeremy Chardy also won’t be playing at the tournament after having suffered a severe adverse reaction to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in September this year.
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