Competing in doubles this Saturday (2 p.m.) with Nicolas Mahut to bring the third point of victory against Ecuador, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, one of the rare players still unvaccinated on the ATP circuit, did not hide his satisfaction, while the vaccination pass will be suspended on March 14.
From our special correspondent in Pau,
The Alsatian Pierre-Hugues Herbert, competing on Saturday in doubles with his accomplice Nicolas Mahut to face the Ecuadorian pair Gonzalo Escobar-Diego Hidalgo, is, like Novak Djokovic, one of the rare players to refuse to be vaccinate. For the time being, he will not be able to line up with Mahut during the American tour (Indian Wells and Miami). He had also skipped Australia in January and put his career in slight jeopardy.
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Change of scenery. Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the end of the vaccination pass, from March 14. To the great relief of the Frenchman, who was able to play on the circuit in February in France, because he had tested positive in January. “I learned Thursday the news at the end of the morning of the end of the vaccination pass. And the good news is that I can play Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5) ! For me, not vaccinated, it’s a relief. But actually it’s a relief for everyone, I feel. I’m very happy for everyone, I think we’ve had a pretty complex period over the past two years, whether we’ve been vaccinated or not. If today, these decisions have been taken by the government, it is because the figures are good. If we can put aside this subject, so heavy, for several months, it is necessarily good news. » On borrowed time, the Alsatian remains suspicious : “At the same time, I remain cautious because the epidemic and therefore the restrictions can return at any time.”
Mahut, who has always publicly respected his partner’s decision, took note of the choice of his friend who, like Djokovic, does not call himself “anti-vax”, but has never given up on his deep convictions. “We are lucky to live in a free country. For me it’s more important than anything, Herbert recently confided to theTeam. This freedom is more important than being a professional tennis player. Djokovic is able to put aside the fact that he is potentially the greatest player of all time for a non-sporting reason».
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In the absence of Herbert, the Angevin had teamed up with Fabrice Martin, 27e world doubles, during the Australian tour. Herbert, who has chained five tournaments on French soil, then found his faithful partner. Mahut-Herbert is tough in this event. In ten Davis Cup matches, the two men have suffered only one defeat together. The 122e world offers itself a little air, at a time when the world is rocking in anguish with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the specter of a nuclear war…
«We are going through something different today. Unfortunately, there is a conflict that has arisen (the war in Ukraine). I am especially sad that, coming out of this pandemic, we are going through what is happening in Ukraine. Very sincerely, it’s a complicated period, I’m 30 today but I don’t feel like I’ve been through what we’ve been through for the past two years. »…
