SM
Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid: 17 hrs 42 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Rafael Nadal insists Australian Open players cannot complain about quarantine

:Headline: Rafael Nadal insists Australian Open players cannot complain about quarantine: ID:432278: from db_amp
Some players have been frustrated by a strict quarantine process ahead of Australian Open.

Rafael Nadal says players preparing for the Australian Open under restrictions "can't complain" and has stressed the importance of a "wider perspective" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Players who arrived in Australia earlier this month ahead of the tournament have been undergoing a strict quarantine process which means they can only leave their hotel rooms for several hours a day to practice.

And 72 are having to spend 14 days confined to rooms in Melbourne following positive Covid-19 cases on flights that had taken them to the country.

The Australian Open is set to get under way in Melbourne on February 8 (PA).

World number two Nadal – not among the 72 as he gets ready to compete in the tournament – told CNN's Amanpour programme when asked what the last two weeks had been like: "Of course it is a different situation than usual, but at least we're here.

"We're going to have the chance to play here, and the world is suffering in general. So we can't complain. We only can say thanks to Tennis Australia, to the Australian community, to welcome us and accept us to come, because I know they have been under very strict measures for a lot of months. For us it is good at least that we can keep playing tennis."

When asked for his thoughts on players complaining about the situation, the Spaniard said: "Well, of course, it has been a tough situation for 72 players, plus their teams, coaches. Of course it is not the ideal situation, and of course I feel very sorry for all of them.

“We're going to have the chance to play here, and the world is suffering in general. So we can't complain.”
- Rafael Nadal

"But when we came here, we knew that the measures are going to be strict because we knew that the country is doing great with the pandemic. Australia probably is one of the best examples in the world, how they react through this very challenging time.

"I mean, it is normal to complain in some way.

"But on the other hand, when you have a little bit wider perspective of what's going on in the world, you have to think and say 'well, OK, I am not happy to be 14 days in my own room without having the chance to practice, to go out, to do my normal preparation for a tournament', but on the other hand you see how many people are dying around the world, you see how many people are losing their father, their mums, without having the chance to say goodbye.

Among social media posts there have been from players that are part of the 72, Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva last week posted a picture of herself on Instagram holding up a sign reading: "We need fresh air to breathe."

World number one Novak Djokovic last week insisted he was not being "selfish, difficult and ungrateful" in speaking out about quarantine conditions for players in Melbourne.

amp_article__432278 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-01-26 20:13:34:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 16:44:49 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Coronavirus outbreak - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Rafael Nadal

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .