‘Why are vaccinated people not rewarded by being allowed to go to Wimbledon?’ asks Jamie Murray

Wimbledon is unlikely to have full crowds this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but seven-time Grand Slam doubles winner Jamie Murray believes people who have vaccinated should be rewarded by being allowed to attend concerts and sporting events such as the grass-court Grand Slam.
After being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19, Wimbledon will return this year but the All England Club has confirmed that a limited number of spectators will be allowed to attend.
Players, their support staff and officials will also have to adhere to strict health and safety protocols and will need to stay in the biosecure bubble at approved hotels in order to minimise the risks to the event.
Johanna Konta ‘very hopeful’ All England Club will change Wimbledon bubble restrictions
Murray, though, believes the strict regulations are unfair on players who have been vaccinated as well as fans who want to attend.
“That’s going to be hard. I live five minutes from the (All England) Club. I’ll be fully vaccinated by then. Where’s the payoff for getting vaccinated? I don’t see it,” he said.
“But I also don’t see it for the country in a way, because it’s like ‘You have to get vaccinated, you have to get vaccinated, the country needs you to do it’. So why aren’t these people rewarded by being allowed to go to Wimbledon?
“How many people are fully vaccinated now? Why can’t they all come to Wimbledon and have 100 per cent fan capacity? Not just for Wimbledon, all the events in the summer, concerts, the Euros – let’s see Scotland against England with a full house.
“That’s what people are desperate to get back to, so I feel like they should be rewarded for following the government’s guidelines of getting vaccinated.”
Although frustrated that he will have to stay in a hotel, the 35-year-old admits he and the rest of the London-based players will just have to “suck it up”.
“For me particularly, as with other British players who live around southwest London, to have to go up and stay in a hotel in central London, in a country that by then is probably going to be full power with restrictions eased and game on – that’s going to be really difficult, I can’t lie about that,” he said.
“But that’s the rules in order to make the tournament happen apparently, so we’ve just got to suck it up.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic vs Stefanos Tsitsipas labelled a dream final
It is almost time to settle the new World No 1.
-
Australian Open
Inside story on the technology propelling Stefanos Tsitsipas to the top
Adidas have taken its tennis offering to a new level with the release of their Adizero Cybersonic tennis shoe.
-
News
Australian Open day 12 wrap: Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas set popcorn final
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won their fourth successive Australian Open title in men’s wheelchair doubles.
-
Australian Open
Elena Rybakina made Australian Open favourite despite poor record against Aryna Sabalenka
Elena Rybakina’s experience of winning a Grand Slam gives her the edge.
-
Australian Open
2023 Australian Open men’s final info, form, H2H, what they said, preview: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Novak Djokovic
Get all the info ahead of the Australian Open men’s final.
-
Australian Open
WATCH: Emotional Novak Djokovic makes his point at press conference
Novak Djokovic admitted he has been shaken by the storm around his father after pro-Russian flag photo.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic hopes to draw a line under Russian flag controversy
Novak Djokovic has released a statement clarifying the family position.
-
Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka in control of her own Australian Open destiny: ‘I’m my psychologist’
Aryna Sabalenka will take on Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the final.
-
Australian Open
Novak Djokovic stays in hunt for La Decima at Australian Open despite meltdown, tantrum, unforced errors galore
Novak Djokovic one Australian Open win away from La Decima.
-
News
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid do it again as they win fourth Australian Open title in a row
The pair were dominant in victory over Dutch duo Maikel Scheffers and Ruben Spaargaren.