Margarita Gasparyan Announces Pregnancy

Russian tennis player Margarita Gasparyan is pregnant. She shared the news on Instagram with a picture and a message. Gasparyan’s message suggests that she is early in her pregnancy but we don’t know when the baby is due. She hasn’t played on the women’s tour since the middle of 2021.

One of the best feelings but not the end of pregnancy. Remember these days…)
 
– Margarita Gasparyan

Gasparyan has won two singles titles and four doubles titles. Her singles ranking peaked at world number 41. She reached a career-high doubles ranking of world number 25 in 2016. In 2021, she married another tennis player, Belarusian Sergey Betov. 

Continue ReadingMargarita Gasparyan Announces Pregnancy

Ons Jabeur Supports Novak Djokovic’s Anti-Vaccine Stance

Ons Jabeur has come out in support of Novak Djokovic, who has refused to get vaccinated. Djokovic was initially given a medical exemption to play at the Australian Open but his visa was revoked at the last minute.

Jabeur said:

I feel like some players they blame him for coming, some players they don’t. I feel like we should respect his choice that he didn’t want to get vaccinated. If they didn’t want him to come, why did you give the exemption and everything? So, I feel like it’s tough what’s happening to him or to anybody; it’s a very, very tough situation.

I hope it’s not political as people are saying. I feel like he’s going for a historical run this season, especially at the Australian Open, and he saw an opportunity to get an exemption so he took it, and you cannot blame him for that really.

Jabeur tested positive for COVID-19  in December despite being vaccinated. She is not an ant-vaxxer  but supports others who hold that view.

Very few players have supported Djokovic’s anti-vaccine stance. Most players feel that he should follow the vaccine rules like everybody else and not get exemptions from tournaments.

Ons Jabeur is the highest-ranked Arab player in tennis history. She reached her peaking ranking of world number 7 in 2021. She is also the first ever Arab player to win a WTA title.

Continue ReadingOns Jabeur Supports Novak Djokovic’s Anti-Vaccine Stance