Spanish tennis star kicks off over Rafael Nadal being granted access to Olympics

Spanish tennis player Pedro Martinez has criticised the protected ranking system that will allow Rafael Nadal to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games. Martinez looks set to miss out on the Spain squad as a direct consequence of Nadal being allowed to play despite his lowly world ranking.

The protected ranking system affords leniency to players who have not been able to compete in any tournaments for a minimum of six months. Nadal is eligible due to the fact he has been sidelined with the hip injury he suffered at last year’s Australian Open, which kept him out for nearly 12 months.

Roberto Carballes Baena is also excluded from the Spain squad due to the protected ranking system, with Nadal set to be joined by Carlos Alcaraz, Pablo Carreno Busta and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. There is a chance that Nadal and Alcaraz could team up to play in the doubles tournament with the tennis events set to be held at Roland Garros.

Speaking at the French Open, Martinez argued that the ranking system was unfair despite being keen to see Nadal play at the Olympics as a fan. He said: “In this case, the protected ranking is an injustice because neither of us has missed the Olympic Games due to being injured.

“Regardless of whether it is Rafa, who we all want to see in the Olympic Games, including me as a fan, I don’t see it as entirely fair. It’s as if I get injured now and in four years I use the protected ranking in the Los Angeles Games.

“I think that this year I deserve to go to the Olympic Games and not going because of a situation like this is a bit unfair, but you can’t control it and that’s it.”

Nadal was knocked out of the French Open in the first round, falling to a straight-sets defeat at the hands of Alexander Zverev. The 37-year-old has said that he expects to retire at the end of this year, but is yet to reveal any concrete plans to step away from the sport.

Mats Wilander, however, believes Nadal could keep going for as long as he can stay fit with injuries having ravaged the latter part of his career.

“The Olympics is huge for him to have a chance to come and play two out of three sets here on Philippe-Chatrier,” said Wilander after Nadal’s defeat to Zverev at Roland Garros. “It’s amazing and could be an incredible end to his career, but I think he’s too competitive. He’s playing too well.

“There are only a few guys that beat him when he’s playing this well and Zverev [was] the worst opponent possible, worse than playing Novak [Djokovic], worse than playing Carlos Alcaraz, because he’s tall and he couldn’t really hurt him. The circumstances were terrible for Rafa.

“[Playing] indoors, it’s cold outside, wet in the air and the ball didn’t travel at all. All that, and still being so close, it’s all positive for Rafa. With that passion, why not keep going? He knows how to win big matches on this court, even when he’s 38, 39.”