Two-time Olympic champion Rafael Nadal on Tuesday turned the newest high tennis participant to confess that he had not but determined whether or not he would take part in the Tokyo Games this summer time, nonetheless giving himself time to resolve based on “circumstances”. The 34-year-old Spaniard won gold in the singles in Beijing in 2008, adding another gold in the doubles with Marc Lopez in Rio de Janeiro five years ago. “In a normal world I would never consider missing the Olympics. There is no doubt about that,” he mentioned at a press convention forward of his opening match on the Italian Open.
“Everybody is aware of how vital the Olympics are for me.
“Under these circumstances, I don’t know. Let’s see what’s happening in the following couple of months. But I must organise my schedule.
“I don’t know but. Honestly I can’t provide you with a transparent reply as a result of I don’t know.
“In a traditional 12 months, I do know my schedule nearly 100% from January 1 till the tip of the season. This 12 months is a bit bit totally different, no?
“We have to be versatile. We must adapt to the issues which are occurring. I don’t know, I can’t provide you with an correct reply. Sorry.”
Nadal is the latest top tennis star to voice his concerns about the Tokyo Games.
On Monday, Serena Williams said she was undecided about going to the Olympics while Japanese stars Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori have both raised concerns about whether Tokyo should be hosting the Games at all.
“I’m an athlete, and of course my immediate thought is that I want to play in the Olympics,” Osaka advised the BBC.
“But as a human, I might say we’re in a pandemic, and if individuals aren’t wholesome, and in the event that they’re not feeling secure, then it’s undoubtedly a very large trigger for concern.”
The Olympics, postponed from 2020 because of the coronavirus, are due to run from July 23 to August 8.
Read all of the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News right here
