Alex de Minaur has vehemently denied a report that he's being investigated for purchasing a falsified COVID-19 vaccination certificate in Europe.
The Australian men's No.1 player took to social media on Thursday to make it "100% clear" that his two vaccination shots were "valid, accurate and true".
His response came after a media report in Spain, where he is based in Alicante during the European season, which alleged that he was among those being investigated for buying a falsified certificate to bypass vaccinations.
"Hi everyone. I wanted to write a quick message here to avoid any misunderstanding regarding a report that is in the Spanish media about my vaccination certificate," de Minaur wrote on Twitter.
"I received my first dose of the vaccine in London last summer, and the second one at the Hospital La Paz in Madrid.
"News came out today that the hospital is under investigation for providing falsified covid certificates to some of its patients.
"I want to make it 100% clear that I received my second shot, that I have a completely valid, accurate and true vaccination record.
"Everyone around me, including my family, is fully vaccinated.
"I am not 'under investigation' in any way as is being suggested and my name is connected to this story simply because I was a patient at the hospital (as many thousands of others were)."
Spanish police sources told the AFP news agency on Thursday that the name of 23-year-old de Minaur was among those of athletes and other prominent figures which had featured on a list of alleged buyers.
The world No.32 played in his home Australian Open last month, where vaccination was compulsory, and reached the last-16.
Police in Spain have reportedly been looking into the Spanish branch of an organisation which has provided false COVID and PCR passes through messaging applications.
The ATP Tour stipulates that submitting a falsified COVID-19 vaccination record is punishable by a fine of up to $140,000 and suspension from its tournaments for a period of up to three years.
De Minaur had to pull out of last year's Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19, with the Sydneysider being left "shattered" by his withdrawal.
After his infection, it took him time to get back to anything like his most convincing form but his best-ever Australian Open run and a run to the quarter-finals in an ATP tournament in Rotterdam last week suggested he's returning to his best.
Djokovic gets green light for Italian Open
It comes as Italian Sports Minister Valentina Vezzali says Novak Djokovic would be allowed to participate in the Italian Open as outdoor events don't require a person to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Djokovic said on Tuesday that he was prepared to miss grand slams rather than have a COVID-19 jab after he was deported shortly before the Australian Open due to his unvaccinated status.
"It is an outdoor sport and the tighter green pass is not required," Vezzali told Italian newspaper Libero on Thursday.
"So if Djokovic wants to come to Italy to play, he will be able to do so. Maybe without visiting hotels and restaurants."
Earlier this month, Italy's government lifted an obligation to wear masks outdoors under most circumstances in response to an improving coronavirus situation.
The Italian Open will take place in Rome from 2-15 May, with the new Australian Open champion Rafa Nadal having beaten Djokovic in last year's final.
Meanwhile, Djokovic has received a warm welcome in Dubai as he prepares to make his eagerly-anticipated return to the tennis court following all the global drama surrounding his decision to remain unvaccinated.
Novak Djokovic visits the Serbian pavilion at the Dubai Expo Source: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
He posed for selfies with adoring fans and set off on a guided tour of Serbia's national pavilion at Expo 2020 on Thursday days before he's due to hit the courts.
The pavilion was hosting an event for his foundation, the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which promotes early childhood education in Serbia.
As he ambled into the pavilion surrounded by a sea of journalists, fans clapped and chanted "Nole", his nickname.
"I'm proud to be on this stage," Djokovic said after his wife Jelena gave a presentation about the foundation's work with children.
He said it was often hard to be involved as much as he wanted to be with the foundation given his whirlwind tournament schedule, but admitted with a smile and to much applause: "It's not as busy as it used to be!"
Meanwhile, one of Djokovic's sponsors, car manufacturers Peugeot, said it expected its logo to still be on his shirt when he competed in Dubai.
"We anticipate the Peugeot brand will be represented at the tournament in Dubai on Mr Djokovic's shirt," a source close to Peugeot told Reuters.
With Reuters.
