By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday August 28, 2021
A coach’s positive Covid-19 test result may have taken Gilles Simon’s last opportunity to play the US Open from him.
The 36-year-old Frenchman, a former World No.6 (current 103) informed reporters on Saturday that he would miss the US Open due to the fact that his coach, Étienne Laforgue, tested positive for the coronavirus upon the pair’s arrival in New York on Thursday.
“I’m in contact and I’m stuck at the hotel for ten days, without being able to play,” he told the French website L’equipe. “I learned that on Friday morning, being in contact with my coach Étienne Laforgue. We arrived in New York on Thursday night and her test came back positive. He feels a little feverish. For me, the test was negative.”
Because Simon isn’t vaccinated, he will not have the chance to play the tournament. If he had been vaccinated, he would not have been forced to withdraw, according to the report. If vaccinated, he could have played on the condition of being tested more regularly.
Simon says he is not totally against being vaccinated, but has not found the time to do it because of his busy schedule on tour.
“Basically, I really didn't want to,” he told L’equipe. “I'm not very scared of the Covid, actually. My basic philosophy is: If you're afraid of it, you get vaccinated, if not, no. It remains a choice. … Afterwards, the point is that you are being forced everywhere to get vaccinated. I am one of those who dragged their feet a bit and who will end up doing so.”
Simon says he didn’t have time to get the vaccination before the US Open.
“Given the conditions, I thought I was going to get the vaccine. But I didn't have the time to do it for the US Open with the deadlines for the full vaccination cycle,” he said. “I came home late from the Olympics and then I didn't want to get vaccinated during a tournament cycle because there may be less good days with the vaccine.”
The Frenchman was replaced by a lucky loser in the draw.