Paris (AFP)

Jérémy Chardy, 73rd in the world, was forced to suspend his season without knowing for how long, due to a reaction to the Pfizer vaccine against covid, he told AFP on Thursday.

"Since I had my vaccine (between the Olympics and the US Open, editor's note), I have a problem, I have a series of struggles. Suddenly, I cannot train, I cannot play, "he said, explaining that he felt violent pains all over his body as soon as he made a physical effort.

For several weeks, the 34-year-old Frenchman wondered about the origin of these almost paralyzing pains.

"Now I have been to see two doctors, I have done some tests so I know what I have and the most important thing is to take care of myself. I even prefer to take more time to take care of myself and be sure that in the future I will not have any problem rather than trying to get back on the court as quickly as possible and find myself still having health problems, "he added.

"In the head it's difficult because I do not know how long it will last. For the moment, my season is stopped and I do not know when I will resume", he stressed again, still under shock 24 hours after receiving the results of his analyzes.

"It's frustrating because I started the year really well, I was playing really well. And then I went to the Games, where I felt great too. And now my season is at a standstill and I don't know when I'm going to start again. It's frustrating especially that I don't have ten years left to play (...) Suddenly, now I regret having had the vaccine, but I could not know ", he said again.

Especially since at his age, a prolonged stoppage can put an end to his career.

"I'm 35 in February so right now I might be a little bit negative but this is the first time I have thought that next season might be my last. J 'think about it ... It's difficult because I was having fun and I wanted to play longer, "he admitted.

"The problem is that we have no hindsight on the vaccine. There are people who have had similar things, but the durations have been really different," he said. based on what the doctors consulted told him.

© 2021 AFP