‘Everybody wants to play’, but Rafael Nadal warns it is tough to add quarantine slot for Tokyo Games

Rafael Nadal would love to play at the Tokyo Games, but the 20-time Grand Slam winner warns it will be “difficult” for tennis to add another 15-day quarantine period to the calendar.
The 2020 Olympics were pushed back to this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there are still major clouds hanging over the tournament as COVID-19 continues to have devastating effects across the globe.
Authorities, though, are still confident that the event will go ahead with some suggesting all athletes, support staff and officials undergo mandatory quarantine ahead of The Games, similar to the regulations that the tennis community had to adhere to ahead of the Australian Open.
Asked about the Olympics, Nadal said: “It’s the same as always: I am nobody to have a clear opinion on that. I am just a tennis player, a human person that doesn’t have enough knowledge about every situation.
“What we have to do is just follow the instructions of what the people who really have the right knowledge of all this stuff give to us.
“What’s going to happen in Tokyo for the Olympics, if the Olympics are going to happen or not, or if we have to do quarantine before Olympics for 15 days or not… it’s difficult for us.”
The world No 2 was adamant that the tennis powers that be will struggle to make space in the calendar for another two-week quarantine slot.
“Combining our Tour with another 15 days of quarantine to play Olympics… It looks difficult to fix it in our calendar,” he continued.
“But, as I said, we’re going to do what the people who know about virus and who know about protecting the people in every single country, [we] are going to just follow their instructions.
“I think everybody wants to play in Olympic Games, then let’s see what’s going on.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
French Open
Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic thrown together in French Open draw
Tournament favourites Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are uncomfortably close in the French Open draw.
-
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz makes 23-year-old top ten player feel old
Carlos Alcaraz makes Casper Ruud feel like time is getting away from him.
-
French Open
Casper Ruud a big fan of Ons Jabeur and Simona Halep
Ons Jabeur claimed the Madrid Open title earlier this month.
-
French Open
Exclusive – Annabel Croft on ‘big match player’ Emma Raducanu’s prospects for this summer
Annabel Croft has backed teenager Raducanu to defy some of her doubters this summer.
-
French Open
French Open: Rafael Nadal slips, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz favourite
Rafael Nadal is still considered a strong contender for the French Open crown.
-
Tennis News
Roger Federer comeback on track as agent reveals Swiss icon is keen to have a crack at Wimbledon 2023
Roger Federer “won’t rush back this time”.
-
French Open
French Open talking points: Ashleigh Barty void, Emma Raducanu’s pain, Hawk-Eye snub
A few talking points ahead of the 2022 French Open.
-
French Open
Red-hot Iga Swiatek ’embracing’ the pressure ahead of French Open, says Martina Navratilova
Iga Swiatek is thriving.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic ‘rose in Belgrade’, says tennis pundit as he highlights ‘turning point’ in world No 1’s season
Novak Djokovic “very close to his best form”.
-
French Open
The British singles contenders at the 2022 French Open: Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie lead the way
The top British players in the main draw at Roland Garros.