Rafael Nadal will be fit and ready for Rio, the head of the Spanish Olympic Committee made it clear on Thursday, even though the 14-time Grand Slam winner is still sweating on his place in the Spain squad.
Nadal was the Olympic champion at Beijing in 2008 but had to miss the London Games with a knee injury four years later.
The 30-year-old tennis star is expected to be Spain’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony in Rio on August 5 but still requires the go-ahead from the International Tennis Federation after he failed to meet qualifying criteria.
“Nadal’s commitment is total and he will go to Rio to participate,” said Alejandro Blanco, the president of the country’s Olympic committee (COE).
“I have no doubts over his participation. He is training regularly in order to achieve what he wants — a medal.”
Nadal will be playing the singles and also the mixed doubles with French Open champion Garbine Muguruza at Rio.
However, he is still recovering from a left wrist injury which caused an early withdrawal from the French Open as well as forcing him to miss the Wimbledon.
Nadal was earlier surprised with the decision that the Olympics tennis event will be played on the hard courts, given that Brazil’s traditional surface is clay, also the Spaniard’s favourite. He was also seen back in training in Mallorca with a tape on his wrist a few days ago.
There`s nothing worst than can happen to a tennis player that being kept off the tennis court due to various injuries. For Nadal health problems have been a constant issue over the past years. And the nightmare seems to keep going on haunting him.
Following a slow start in 2016, Nadal later found his rhythm and got himself on the right path again. Unfortunately, at the French Open, he was coerced to withdraw due to a wrist issue. He further pulled out from Wimbledon. A question mark currently revolves around his recovery. And more importantly, is he going to be able to put himself together for the Olympics in Rio?
If the Spaniard follows his recovery`s schedule he will have so little time to set things in motion for Rio. The Olympic Games are set to begin right after the Canadian Masters. As the flag-bearer of the Spanish team, he will have to endure some extra pressure. Above this, he is probably keen to make a prodigious run as the one he did in 2008 in Beijing. Back in 2012, he missed that Olympics
Back in 2012, he missed that Olympics edition in London due to medical issues. Moreover, he needs a huge win in order to reignite his career and the Olympics seems just the right opportunity to do so. The tennis contests in Rio will be played on a hardcourt surface. It is something that will please most of the participants judging by the fact that in that period the US hardcourt season will be in full swing and the US Open will also stand just around the corner.
It is something that will please most of the participants judging by the fact that in that period the US hardcourt season will be in full swing and the US Open will also stand just around the corner.