FILE PHOTO: Tennis - ATP Cup - Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia - January 10, 2020 Canada's Denis Shapovalov celebrates during his Quarter Final singles match against Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Edgar Su
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - World number 13 Denis Shapovalov says he will refuse to play at the Australian Open if forced to compete in poor air and expects other leading players at the Grand Slam tournament would do the same if their health is at risk.
Organisers have been criticised by players and the media for ploughing ahead with qualifying this week despite authorities warning residents to stay indoors and restrict physical activity as air quality plunged due to bushfire smoke.
