Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta has defended compatriot Rafael Nadal over his decision to skip this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Nadal is currently taking a break from the Tour due to what was a demanding clay-court swing earlier this year and he also skipped Wimbledon. The former world No.1 is currently the reigning Olympic champion in doubles after winning gold in 2016 alongside Marc Lopez. He is already a three-time Olympian after competing in the 2004, 2008 and 2016 tournaments.
As a result of Nadal’s absence, Carreno Busta will be Spain’s highest ranked player in the men’s draw at Tokyo. It will be the first time the 30-year-old has played at the sporting extravaganza in his career.
“Rafa In the end, he’s a 35-year-old who has already won two gold medals, one individual and one in doubles. He has played a lot throughout his career,” the world No.11 told Marseille News.
“But he had already given up on Wimbledon. It was certainly not a whim. Of course you have given it a lot of thought and what is best for your career.”
Carreno Busta heads into the Games high in confidence after claiming his first ATP 500 title at the Hamburg Open in Germany. He didn’t drop a set in four matches played at the tournament where he beat Filip Krajinović in the final. His win-loss for the season now stands at 19-9.
Now targeting a medal in Tokyo, Carreno Busta says that world No.1 Novak Djokovic remains the favourite to win gold. Djokovic is currently on course to achieve a Golden Slam where a player wins all four major titles, as well as the Olympics, within the same year. The milestone has only ever been achieved once before, which was by Steffi Graf back in 1988.
“Djokovic is first and foremost. It seems unbeatable. He’s at a very high level and if there’s a favourite in Tokyo, it’s him,” said Carreno Busta.
“But he’s also the rival to beat, the one with all the pressure behind. Either way, I’m not watching him or what he’s going to do. I have to focus on myself.”
This year’s Olympics has been marred by a series of high-profile withdrawals due to the ongoing pandemic, injury problems and scheduling. On Sunday Matteo Berrettini pulled out due to injury and Coco Gauff also withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19.
“It’s a tough time, they (the organizers) tried in the best way they could. There won’t be an audience and we won’t be able to watch other competitions. It always makes you excited. I don’t know how the theme of the city or the arrival in Japan will be like,” Carreno Busta commented.
The Olympic tennis tournament will start on Saturday.
