Joshua Kimmich's statements would not have been needed for heated debates about the corona vaccination in sports.

With the pressure of wage losses like in US leagues, with clear disadvantages for the unvaccinated and the risk of missing out on opportunities for triumphs, there are enough topics.

The consequences that can result from the vaccination status are different.

Sometimes the vaccination seems to be a must for athletic success, like for the Winter Games in Beijing 2022 or the Australian Open.

Much remains unclear

The discussion is particularly heated in tennis.

Such clarity as now with national player Kimmich, who admitted on Saturday that he has not yet been vaccinated against Corona, would be what some would wish for top star Novak Djokovic.

The world number one, who recovered from a corona disease last year, does not want to reveal his vaccination status and poses a riddle: is he really unvaccinated or long since vaccinated?

“It's a private matter,” the 34-year-old Serb said in an interview.

The question about it is inappropriate.

It is not uncommon for you not to find out anything about the unvaccinated.

This is also the case, for example, in Formula 1 or in clubs in the Bundesliga.

Kimmich only spoke after a media report.

In tennis, this question comes more and more into focus as the year progresses, as the journey to the Australian Open gets closer.

It is questionable whether Djokovic can defend his title without Corona spades.

Whether unvaccinated people are allowed to participate in the Grand Slam tournament, which begins on January 17th, is possible, but has not yet been officially decided.

The conditions would be strict: A strict two-week hotel quarantine would be a huge disadvantage.

"I do not have the problem," confirmed Olympic champion Alexander Zverev and let his vaccinated status through.

The secrecy about Djokovic may not end until after the flight to Australia.

When he flies.

His participation is open.

Vaccination as a private decision

Zverev also considers vaccination a private issue.

Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel said: “Well, who am I that I can judge that?” He said: “I mean, I got vaccinated.

Obviously I travel a lot. ”Everyone has to decide for himself, it affects his own body.

"But I also think that in some cases it is not just a decision that you have to make for yourself, but also for other people, and out of solidarity you should perhaps get vaccinated."

In Formula 1, the Kingdom of Bahrain had offered the full vaccination, and in tennis there were also opportunities at competition sites.

The risk of missed opportunities

If a Formula 1 racing driver fails, this will affect the World Championship standings and could cost his team millions in revenue.

At Djokovic, tennis history is at stake in addition to the prize money.

He actually wants to overtake Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with Grand Slam title 21.

The pressure to vaccinate is high.

Just like for the Olympic participants.

Because for the winter games in Beijing, which are to open on February 4, the rules for unvaccinated people provide for a three-week quarantine after arrival.

As in tennis, the immediate preparation for the competitions would be severely disturbed.

The various vaccination rates

A large part of the German Olympians are already fully vaccinated, said the executive board of competitive sports of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, Dirk Schimmelpfennig. In tennis, the rate is (still) low. Top players like last year's US Open winner Dominic Thiem from Austria have announced that they will be vaccinated. In total, around a third of the men on the ATP tour and around 40 percent of the women on the WTA tour have not been vaccinated.

Things went much better in other sports.

In the Bundesliga, Kimmich is of course not the only unvaccinated professional, but with a quota of more than 90 percent among players and coaches in the 1st and 2nd league, he is an exception.

In the basketball Bundesliga, only one player was known before the start of the season who did not have 2G status (99 percent).

In the German Ice Hockey League, the share increased to 93 percent.

With many positive cases and game cancellations, there were massive problems.

The look at US sports

Regardless of the league, it's about team success and avoiding competitive disadvantages.

“The big goal is to win the title.

And that starts with health as number one, ”said NBA superstar LeBron James, who claims to have been skeptical but opted for protection.

He is happy "that we have given each other the opportunity to be available for one another".

In the NHL, only four of the more than 700 ice hockey players were recently considered not to be vaccinated.

Unvaccinated people cannot easily commute between Canada and the USA, but have to be quarantined for 14 days after entering Canada.

Strict rules lead to a high vaccination rate. Anyone who misses a game in the NBA and NHL because they haven't been vaccinated won't get a salary. According to the media, 95 percent of the professionals in the NBA are vaccinated. A prominent exception is Kyrie Irving. Because the Brooklyn Nets train in New York and play their home games, the local rules also apply - and they oblige Irving to have a vaccination if he wants to be in a sports hall. As long as he is not completely available to his team, the Nets do without him. According to the US media, he missed $ 380,000 per home game.

In tennis, the first-round participants of the US Open got $ 75,000 - it will be similar at the Australian Open.

"It would be great if more players were vaccinated," said former number one Andy Murray recently: "It's the decision of the players."