Rafa: I will play Roland Garros if it is safe

[BeatlesFan]

Article:

Rafael Nadal will celebrate his 34th birthday on Wednesday. The world No. 2 has made a pre-party vow: If Roland Garros can ensure safety from the coronavirus, he'll return to Paris to defend his French Open crown.

In an interview with French TV program Stade 2, Nadal said health and safety is the top priority. Though he envisions "an uncertain, complicated situation," the 12-time French Open champion says he will play Paris if it's safe for players and staff.

"I do not look to the future in a professional way but in a medical way to preserve the health of all tournament workers, ATP workers and all players. I see an uncertain, complicated situation, but things never you know how they evolve.
If you can compete safely, with the same possibilities for everyone, because we come from different parts of the world, and everyone can participate, I will be there. But today we must go with caution and responsibility to make the right decisions to guarantee the health of all of us who make up the world of tennis."

The 19-time Grand Slam champion has been training twice a day at home in Mallorca and describes his progress as slow and steady.

"I am fine. I have been two months and something without being able to leave the house. Luckily, I have machines that have allowed me to do physical training. Now I have been training for a couple of weeks, but very little by little. I do not train every day I am training progressively, slowly and with the utmost caution. The goal is to be ready for when you can play again and right now we don't know."

Video of the interview with Rafa wearing a (almost) beard again:

https://www.tennisnow.com/News/2020/June/Nadal-If-Roland-Garros-Is-Safe,-I-ll-Be-There.aspx

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Yeah, that was in question, OP.

 

[Standaa]

now that’s a great looking beard of a just turned 15 year old.

 

[daggerman]

Rafa strikes me as somebody who wouldn't train at all if he weren't a professional athlete

But he also strikes me as somebody who would drastically understate the amount of training he's been doing.

 

[Mike Sams]

Rafa strikes me as somebody who wouldn't train at all if he weren't a professional athlete

But he also strikes me as somebody who would drastically understate the amount of training he's been doing.

Having a couple of months off to reset and recharge is always good for all athletes in a sport as rigorous and as demanding as tennis which has no real off season.

 

[tennis_pro]

I read somewhere today that the organiser of the FO says he's certain that the FO will be played with a full stadium this year. The guy's gone insane.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Yeah, that was in question, OP.

Nor did I indicate that it was in doubt. It's tennis news, that's why it was posted. Nadal's comments generally indicate that he doubts it will be played:

"I see an uncertain, complicated situation, but things never you know how they evolve. If you can compete safely, with the same possibilities for everyone, because we come from different parts of the world, and everyone can participate, I will be there. But today we must go with caution and responsibility to make the right decisions to guarantee the health of all of us who make up the world of tennis."

 

[MeatTornado]

Rafa strikes me as somebody who wouldn't train at all if he weren't a professional athlete

But he also strikes me as somebody who would drastically understate the amount of training he's been doing.

Now I'm picturing him retired on his boat 15 years from now with a beer gut

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Nor did I indicate that it was in doubt. It's tennis news, that's why it was posted. Nadal's comments generally indicate that he doubts it will be played:

"I see an uncertain, complicated situation, but things never you know how they evolve. If you can compete safely, with the same possibilities for everyone, because we come from different parts of the world, and everyone can participate, I will be there. But today we must go with caution and responsibility to make the right decisions to guarantee the health of all of us who make up the world of tennis."

You chose the headline, OP.

 

[Centrius]

Big If true.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

RG is very dangerous:
any decent vamosalaplayan fan of the nadal should hope he's reasonable and stays at home playing online poker or virtual fishing.

PS: i swear i didn't edit the picture !!!

 

[flutzingitaway]

RG is very dangerous:
any decent vamosalaplayan fan of the nadal should hope he's reasonable and stays at home playing online poker or virtual fishing.

The whole tennis season should be cancelled. Planning 2 slams is just embarassing. The whole sports world will be laughing at tennis.

 

[r2473]

RG is very dangerous:
any decent vamosalaplayan fan of the nadal should hope he's reasonable and stays at home playing online poker or virtual fishing.

I informed Nadal that his safety cannot be guaranteed at any future tournament. As much as it pained me, I advised him to stay home indefinitely. It’s really the best thing

 

[Technology Ruined Tennis]

I read somewhere today that the organiser of the FO says he's certain that the FO will be played with a full stadium this year. The guy's gone insane.

Clearly they do have enough cash on hand to pay for the renovations. RG has to be played, safety be damned, they've got debts to pay.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

I informed Nadal that his safety cannot be guaranteed at any future tournament. As much as it pained me, I advised him to stay home indefinitely. It’s really the best thing

you're a true friend, bro...


...

... of the nadal, of course ​

 

[MichaelNadal]

He better slay

 

[r2473]

you're a true friend, bro...


...

... of the nadal, of course ​

Anything to keep the Nadal home.........and safe

 

[r2473]

He better slay

Ewwww

 

[The Blond Blur]

Tbh I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be played. We were right to take precautions, but we haven’t come anywhere near the projected numbers of the models.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Anything to keep the Nadal home.........and safe

Last minute: defense minister just confirmed RG wasn't safe.

 

[Lleytonstation]

It's on clay? It is the FO? One away from Fed?

He is playing.

 

[I Am Finnish]

He is so epic

 

[PeoplesChamp]

Nadal is trying so hard to act nonchalant lol. That dude can't wait to play FO.

 

[MichaelNadal]

He is so epic

 

[vex]

.... Rafa would show up to RG if it was played in a Sharknado... who is he kidding lol

 

[Tshooter]

 

[Tshooter]

..."I do not look to the future in a professional way but in a medical way to preserve the health of all tournament workers, ATP workers and all players....

No concern for the fans ?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Nadal is trying so hard to act nonchalant lol. That dude can't wait to play FO.

the nadal ?!... faking ???

 

[TU87]

All these pro athletes are going to have to accept that there is no totally safe unless there is a vaccine which is not happening anytime soon. Every time you leave you home and go to a public place you are exposed to virus and bacteria. Your body fights them off or has antibodies from past exposures and you don't even know you have been exposed it. Flu cases never go to 0 through out the year although they are reduced in summer. Coronavirus cases won't go to 0.

 

[NoleFam]

Last minute: defense minister just confirmed RG wasn't safe.

Lol. You and your gifs......I swear

 

[kevaninho]

Well if team sports are playing, as well as golf etc soon, then tennis will definitely be happening in the near future too.

No luck for anyone hoping Djokodal were going to miss years of slams.

 

[Red Rick]

now that’s a great looking beard of a just turned 15 year old.

***** I can't even grow that lol

 

[Red Rick]

Djokovic now shows up unvaccinated, chasing away the Nadal.

200 IQ play

 

[octobrina10]

The National, June 4, 2020: ¤¤ Rafael Nadal wants Tour to resume only after all travel restrictions are lifted.
Rafael Nadal believes resuming the tennis tour before all travel restrictions are lifted worldwide would be unfair to the players who won’t be able to make it to tournaments.
In a Zoom press conference call with international media on Thursday [June 4, 2020], the Spaniard was asked if the tennis circuit should restart if there was one country in the world where players still could not travel from.
“I think we have a worldwide tour. My feeling is we need to be clear, we need to be responsible, we need to be sending strong messages and we need to be a positive example for society,” said Nadal.
“We need to understand that we are suffering unprecedented situations, and my feeling is we need to come back when all the players from all the countries of the world are able to travel under safe circumstances. If not, in my personal opinion, we will come back, yes, and I probably will play, maybe yes, but my feeling will be that we are not being 100 per cent correct and I want to see my sport 100 per cent fair and correct, especially under these circumstances.” ¤¤

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1268544382938091525

 

[Start da Game]

he is a scared little individual without uncle toni........can't blame him........

 

[BeatlesFan]

UPDATE:

Rafa now said today he doubts the USO will be played:

"If you [ask] me today, I will say, 'No,''' said Rafa.

"In a couple of months? I don't know. Hopefully, 'Yes,''' he continued. "But we need to wait probably until we have more clear information about how the virus evolves and how the situation is going to be in New York in a couple of months. Because, of course, New York has been one of the places that have been very strongly hit by the virus. So let's see. I really believe we need to be patient, be responsible,'' Nadal said, ''and we need to [be] calm and do the things the right way.''

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/29265506/rafael-nadal-not-sure-us-open-played-2020

 

[octobrina10]

he is a scared little individual without uncle toni........can't blame him........

...in someone's imaginations.

 

[BeatlesFan]

...in someone's imaginations.

I'm confused, Octo. You forget your habitual tagline, "Fed's parents worked in pharmaceuticals." Don't forget it next time!

 

[octobrina10]

I'm confused, Octo. You forget your habitual tagline, "Fed's parents worked in pharmaceuticals." Don't forget it next time!

I haven't noticed any comments from your comrades that would have reminded me of it (before your comment).

 

[DSH]

Living is the only urgent thing, the rest is secondary.
Health is first. If health fails, everything else comes to the background.
Any small or great pleasure in life is best enjoyed with health.

 

[marc45]

Nadal not sure US Open can be played in 2020

Rafael Nadal says right now he doesn't think the US Open can be played this year but he wants to wait and see what happens with the coronavirus pandemic.

www.espn.com

 

[btsjungkook]

Rafa: I will win Roland Garros if it is safe

 

[Deleted member 770618]

They are still selling tickets to Cincy, it's a little over 2 months away.