Bad timing. Russian tennis player Natalia Vikhlyantseva didn’t even travel Down Under because Sputnik V, the COVID-19 vaccine brand she got in her home country, was not approved by the Australian government at the time she was supposed to arrive in Australia. A month later, now that the Australian Open has already started, the Russian vaccine has been recognized in Australia.
“Thrilled” to hear the news, the 24-year-old Vikhlyantseva shared her feelings on Twitter:
Guys, I have an amazing news for you! As you might know Sputnik V was accepted by Australian government this morning #BetterLateThanNever
Vikhlyantseva’s best Grand Slam results were two second round appearances and both happened at the Australian Open, in 2017 and 2019.