Tennis star Rafael Nadal says he does not know if he will compete at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics because of uncertainty relating to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who won Olympic gold in the singles in 2008 and the doubles in 2016, says he does not yet know his schedule.
“In a normal world I will never think about missing the Olympics, of course,” the Spaniard, 34, told a news conference.
“Under these circumstances, I don’t know.”
Nadal’s comments came the day after American 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams raised doubts over her participation because she is hesitant to spend time away from her three-year-old daughter, Olympia.
They also followed comments from Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who said rising Covid-19 levels in Tokyo were a “big cause for concern” and that she was “not really sure” the Olympics should go ahead this summer.
On sunday, another Tennis star Naomi Osaka said rising Covid-19 levels in Tokyo are a “big cause for concern” and she is “not really sure” the Olympics should go ahead this summer.
Tokyo is under a state of emergency amid a surge in cases, 10 weeks from the start of the rescheduled Games on 23 July.
Tokyo is under a state of emergency amid a surge in cases, 10 weeks from the start of the rescheduled Games on 23 July.