“I don’t have a clear opinion”- Rafael Nadal refuses to be dragged into the Wimbledon points controversy
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Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal avoided looking ahead after winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 over Australian Jordan Thompson on Monday to begin his Roland-Garros 2022 campaign. Ten days after losing in the third round of the Rome Open to Denis Shapovalov, the fifth seed began his quest for a record-extending 14th title at the clay-court major. Following that loss, Nadal said that he was playing with a sore foot, sparking suspicion about his Roland-Garros campaign.
Rafael Nadal was also questioned on the ATP’s plan to withhold ranking points from Wimbledon in 2022 as a result of the All England Club’s decision to exclude Russian and Belarussian players from the tournament. However, the Spaniard refused to take a position, expressing a fairly balanced view between the two regulatory bodies and expressing disappointment that players were still unable to unite.
“I will not be the player who puts my board in a tough position for decision that they make”- Rafael Nadal
“I don’t have a clear opinion. In our tour, every single player have a different opinion, and that’s why we never achieve the things that we could achieve if we were be together,” Nadal mentioned this during his press conference after defeating Jordan Thompson in the first round of Roland-Garros on Monday.
He added: “I respect and I understand Wimbledon’s position, without a doubt, but in the other hand, I understand and I respect too that the ATP is protecting their members [the players – editor’s note]. That’s it. Is not that one is doing a negative thing and the other one is doing the good thing. Everyone half.”
“I think players, we are not prepared enough well to make important decisions, because at the end is an individual sport. Everyone have their personal view in terms of how much profit they get from every single decision that ATP gets. At the end, I understand both sides. The board, the ATP board, make a decision. We need to accept that decision. I will not be the player who comes here and who put my board in a tough position for decision that they make. That’s my point of view. Hopefully, ATP and Wimbledon can be together and sit together and negotiate a better future for both sides,” Rafael Nadal concluded.
Also Read: Rafael Nadal surpasses Roger Federer in ‘This’ elite list with his 106th win at French Open
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Pritha Ghosh
(414 Articles Published)