Can Rafael Nadal play at the 2024 Paris Olympics after missing the Davis Cup 2023?

Can Rafael Nadal play at the 2024 Paris Olympics after missing the Davis Cup 2023?

Rafael Nadal (Image via Getty)

Spanish tennis ace and 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has been out of action for several months now. The 37-year-old last played at the Australia Open where he had a second-round exit. Nadal has since been recuperating from injuries and there has been no fixed timeline of his comeback. While reports claim that Nadal is on the cusp of retirement, the Spaniard might hang his racket only after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But, having not played for months now, Nadal’s participation in the Olympics is in jeopardy. The Spaniard does not fulfill the eligibility criteria laid out by the International Tennis Federation. Notably, the ITF shared a few pointers on who will be eligible to play in the Olympic tennis event.

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“The player must have fulfilled the minimum participation requirement in the ITF Davis Cup or ITF Billie Jean King Cup Competitions during the Olympic Cycle, by being part of the final nominated Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup team, and present at the Tie/Event, on a minimum of two (2) occasions during the Olympic Cycle, provided that one of those occasions is in either 2023 or 2024,” states the rule laid out by ITF.

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In case a player does not fulfill this criterion, there are ways to be eligible for Olympic participation. A player missing out due to illness and injury can request the panel to consider his/her case. Also, if a player has previously participated in the Olympics or Davis Cup, he or she can seek favor from the panel set up to review participation.

Also Read: WATCH: A drunk Jack Draper celebrating Great Britain’s Davis Cup win annoys Andy Murray forcing the former World No. 1 to show him his ‘middle finger’ 

How can Rafael Nadal play at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

While Rafael Nadal has not played in the Davis Cup 2023, the Spaniard has won five Davis Cups. Also, Nadal has won a gold medal at the Olympics, meaning he fulfills the minimum participation requirement and can get clearance from the panel for his participation at his home Olympics.

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Rafael Nadal after winning gold at Beijing Olympics (Image via Tennis.com)

Also, the Spaniard will return to action next season with a protected ranking, meaning he will be among the top four players in the country and hence will be eligible for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Notably, when a player uses the protected ranking for the first time, he or she has nine months to use it to enter tournaments.

Nevertheless, Nadal would not need any of this considering his impressive portfolio at the Davis Cup Finals and the Olympics.

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