Rafael Nadal ‘doesn’t give a damn about tennis right now,’ says Toni as ace focuses on coronavirus fight

Michael Graham
Rafael Nadal in action

Rafael Nadal ‘doesn’t give a damn about tennis right now’ as the fight against coronavirus takes priority, says his uncle and former coach Toni.

Tennis has been on lockdown since March when Indian Wells was called off due to fears over the spread of Covid-19.

Wimbledon and the Olympics have also now cancelled for the summer, with the French Open rescheduling for September.

Even that date is far from secure, though, and the same can be said of the US Open, leaving tennis facing the very real possibility that it may not be able to resume until 2020.

“We [Rafael Nadal and I] were talking and he told me he doesn’t give a damn about tennis right now,” Toni Nadal told the Spanish media. “That’s logical if you have a little sensitivity.”

“I said a few weeks ago that things were going to be totally stopped for a while. How do you want us to play tennis? It’s unthinkable.

“It won’t be played until there is a very clear security measure.

“If not, how do I go to an event? What if another wave [of infections] comes back in October? How many countries won’t make restrictions on movement? How long will lockdown last? I don’t know.

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“Tennis is a sport that moves many people from one country to another.

“With the huge problem we have, all this has been forgotten. It’s secondary. Coronavirus is what counts, not tennis.

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